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Turning 21, a young man gambled for only 30 minutes before he hit a massive $362,640 jackpot at the LINQ Hotel+ Experience in Sin City

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Hitting a jackpot or a major win while gambling at a casino always brings excitement. To the lucky few that are able to experience such a thrill, they will undoubtedly remember it for the rest of their lives. And while some may gamble for years without any luck of winning any good prizes, others may be extremely lucky, which is the case of an Ohio resident who recently visited Las Vegas for his 21st birthday.

Damon Howell, a Union City, Ohio, resident, decided to celebrate his birthday by visiting the gambling capital of the world. Turning 21, the young man was able to start gambling. But little did Howell expect that luck was on his side from his first steps into gambling. In celebration of his 21st birthday, the young man visited the LINQ Hotel+ Experience, a renowned luxury hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

A Six-Figure Win after 30 Minutes of Play

Once turning 21, Howell started playing at the casino. To his surprise, some 30 minutes after starting to play, the man hit a staggering jackpot of more than $300,000. Playing at the LINQ’s O’Shea’s pit, the young man hit the MEGA Progressive jackpot, taking a whopping $362,640 from playing Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

As announced by 23WIFR, the young man appeared “overwhelmed with shock and disbelief,” in light of the massive jackpot win. The young man did not disclose specific details about what he intends to do with the grand prize he won from playing Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Still, Howell admitted that buying his own house is definitely a plausible option, considering the massive $360,000 jackpot he won recently.

Back in April, Caesars turned to the seasoned veteran, Kim Harris Jones, for the role of member of its Board of Directors. Labeled as a strategic appointment, the hire brought extensive experience to the Board.

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Seattle\’s Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro law firm initiated the lawsuit in January 2023 on behalf of two tourists aiming to recover alleged overcharges

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A class-action lawsuit, which presented price-fixing claims against major Las Vegas hotels, has been dismissed by a federal judge. Thus, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts, and Treasure Island scored a big victory in prolonged legal proceedings, which started over a year ago.

Lawsuit Alleges Price-Fixing Conspiracy Among Major Las Vegas Hotel Operators

The lawsuit was filed back in January 2023 by Seattle-based law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro on behalf of two tourists who sought repayment for alleged overcharges. The lawsuit accused major Las Vegas hotel operators such as Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts, and Treasure Island that they have made surreptitious agreements aiming to inflate room prices with the help of data-sharing software called Rainmaker.

Allegedly the operators used the software developed by Florida-based Cyndyn Group to share sensitive pricing information among themselves, which then resulted in artificially high room rates.

The plaintiffs challenged the major Las Vegas operators under the Sherman Antitrust Act, which aims to prevent anti-competitive practices that could harm consumers.

In the recent hearing in connection with the case, US District Chief Judge Miranda Du dismissed the lawsuit, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal. She stated that plaintiffs did not prove that there was in fact a clear price fixing agreement among the hotel operators.

Du’s decision followed another dismissal of the lawsuit that happened in October 2023. The plaintiffs then filed an amended complaint but still, the judge found their allegations insufficient to establish a plausible case of price-fixing.

Lawsuit Claims Bias in Vegas Hotel Pricing Software, Judge’s Ruling Highlights Gray Area

According to the claims in the lawsuit, using Rainmaker’s software affected the normal market competition as it provided biased pricing recommendations, which the plaintiffs claimed were in favor of the hotel operators. As a result, the room prices had higher rates for consumers.

However, Judge Du pointed out that hotel operators do not have to align their prices with the suggestions from Rainmaker, which weakened the plaintiffs’ argument.

Hotel operators’ representatives hailed the decision but also stressed that they are committed to fair business practices.

At the same time, the legal representatives of the plaintiffs said that they are currently considering their options and may potentially file for an appeal.

Last year in April, the Las Vegas hotel-casino operators also sought to dismiss the class-action lawsuit, refuting the plaintiff’s claims and dubbing them a conspiracy.

Back then, Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV, also opposed the allegations as unfounded. She attributed the high room rates to implications following the removal of pandemic restrictions.

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On May 14, Running Aces submitted an amended complaint, broadening the scope of its original lawsuit targeting Grand Casino Hinckley, Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and Treasure Island Resort & Casino

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Minnesota casino, racetrack, and hotel Running Aces has recently amended its federal lawsuit and added Mystic Lake and Little Six Casinos, owned by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Running Aces has accused tribal casinos of offering unauthorized video games of chance in violation of federal and state laws.

Running Aces Alleges Illegal Advantage in Tribal Casinos’ Gaming Activities

Running Aces filed the amended complaint on May 14 expanding the scope of the initial lawsuit against Grand Casino Hinckley, Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and Treasure Island Resort & Casino. According to the legal action, Running Aces alleges that the casinos along with the newly added Mystic Lake and Little Six have an illegal and unfair advantage because they are hosting unauthorized gaming activities, reported the Star Tribune.

Taro Ito, the CEO and President of Running Aces, underlined the gravity of the situation by saying: “For decades, tribal casinos and certain politicians have been falsely perpetuating that they are entitled to an exclusive right on gaming in the State of Minnesota, including electronic video games of chance. To the contrary, under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA), which is a federal law, such an exclusive right is in fact prohibited.”

He further added that the current legal regulations in the state of Minnesota specifically prohibit the playing of electronic video games of chance for any person.

Running Aces Seeks Monetary Compensation in Heightened Legal Battle

The legal battle has become even more intense as Running Aces is not only looking for a court injunction but has also filed for unspecified monetary damages that the company is seeking from the executives of the targeted tribal casinos.

According to the filed lawsuit, through their offerings of Class II video slots and other video games, the respondents have violated both state compact agreements and Minnesota criminal law.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community responded to the lawsuit by defending the legality of its gaming operations. The tribal operator denounced Running Aces’ claims as baseless. It also accused the horse racing track of tarnishing the reputation of tribal gaming.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community confirmed that all gaming offerings at Mystic Lake and Little Six Casinos comply with tribal, federal, and state laws.

This legal clash comes on the backdrop of a broader debate in Minnesota’s legislature over the expansion of gambling, which is focused mainly on sports betting and Historical Horse Racing (HHR). As part of the debate, tracks like Running Aces and Canterbury Park have expressed concerns that they are being sidelined in legislative discussions.

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The tribal casino chain operates four casinos across Michigan and Indiana and has paid out a whopping $3.2 million in jackpots since March

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A gambler from Schaumburg, Illinois, was visiting the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo for a few bets. The guest, who chose to remain anonymous, however, did not expect to return home 536,614-dollar-richer.

According to the operator, the Illinois gambler was playing a Dollar Storm Wild Ninja slot machine at the casino on April 28 when they hit the jackpot. The jackpot was won on a $5 bet, the Four Winds casino noted.

Dollar Storm Wild Ninja sports a progressive jackpot that increases over time. At the time of the Illinois gambler’s win, the jackpot stood at $536,614.25.

This is not the first time a Four Winds Casino property has paid out such a significant sum. The tribal casino chain operates four casinos across Michigan and Indiana and has paid out a whopping $3.2 million in jackpots since March.

Two of the most recent ones included a $177,894.30 progressive jackpot that was won on April 30 by a guest player from Indiana. The player in question was enjoying a Double Blessings slot machine at Four Winds South Bend and won the jackpot on a $0.88 bet.

Another visitor from Indiana won a $104,500 jackpot on May 2 after placing a $100 bet. That player was tackling a Mystical Mermaids slot machine at Four Winds South Bend. All players in question preferred to remain anonymous.

Four Winds Is Happy to Change Players’ Lives

In an official statement, Four Winds Casinos’ chief operating officer, Mary Smith, expressed her team’s excitement about the recent jackpots. She said:

Four Winds Casinos is very excited for all our guests that have recently won significant and life-changing jackpots at one of our four casino locations as well as our online casino.

Mary Smith, COO, Four Winds Casinos

The casino company confirmed that the progressive jackpots have now been reset.

Speaking of gambling in the region, a player from Indiana recently won $2,200 on a slot machine at the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City. The man, however, asked another person to collect his winnings on his behalf to avoid having his ID scanned since he was falling behind schedule in terms of child support.

The man was charged with Level 6 felony cheating at gaming at La Porte Superior Court 4 and faces up to 30 months in prison.

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The development company maintains its interest in securing one of the three lucrative New York casino licenses, hoping to transform Coney Island into a premier entertainment destination

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Thor Equities, alongside its partners Saratoga Casino Holdings, the Chickasaw Nation, and Legends, has unveiled a refined vision for its ambitious casino project in Coney Island, Brooklyn, now branded simply as The Coney. The $3 billion development plan transcends traditional gaming, promising a comprehensive entertainment and hospitality hub. However, the project has faced substantial backlash from locals worried about its long-term effects.

New Updates Aim to Win Over Locals

The proposal, first introduced in March 2023, has been updated to include a 500-room hotel, a 2,500-seat concert venue, 70,000 square feet of retail space, and 90,000 square feet of meeting and event facilities. This multifaceted development aims to revitalize the area, offering locals and visitors a vibrant, year-round destination.

Sam Gerrity, CEO of Saratoga Casino Holdings, one of the companies in the consortium behind the project, was adamant that the planned casino resort would provide substantial benefits, creating careers, supporting local businesses, and attracting more visitors with its expanded entertainment options. He was confident that The Coney would positively affect the area, enhancing locals’ day-to-day lives.

[Coney Island] needs a project that provides year-round economic support while also lifting up the infrastructure in one of the most densely traveled areas of the community.

Sam Gerrity, Saratoga Casino Holdings CEO

The casino resort’s newly updated renderings showcase Thor Equities’ vision for the five-acre site between Stillwell Avenue, West 12th Street, and Wonder Wheel Way. The design aims to seamlessly integrate with Coney Island’s historical and cultural fabric, enhancing its appeal as a premier entertainment destination. However, the project must overcome fierce competition in the fight for the limited licenses.

The Project Faces Stiff Competition

While Thor Equities and its partners await further guidance from the New York State Gaming Commission on the specific requirements for obtaining a downstate casino permit, they continue to refine their plans and engage with the community. The collaboration with Saratoga Casino Holdings, the Chickasaw Nation, and Legends reflects a strategic alliance leveraging their combined expertise to create a transformative project.

Despite the consortium’s efforts, locals have been less than ecstatic regarding the casino resort. 2023 saw local community leaders overwhelmingly vote against the ambitious project, expressing concern regarding its long-term impact on struggling communities. Opponents claim the casino threatens to turn Coney Island into another Atlantic City, bringing all the gambling industry’s negatives to a struggling neighborhood.

While The Coney struggles to win the approval of locals, rival projects threaten to outcompete it in the fight for the limited casino slots. Industry giants like Wynn Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and Resorts World have pitched alternative projects, hoping to be included in The New York Gaming Facility Location Board’s final decision expected next year.

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The ship is owned and operated by P&O Australia, which was hosting an Elvis-themed cruise

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An Australian man has taken his own life after accumulating debts in a cruise ship’s casino, Daily Mail reported. Safer gambling experts believe that Dixon’s suicide could have been prevented if the ship provider had provided adequate duty of care.

Shane Dixon, 50, jumped to his death as the ship approached Sydney. A father of three children, the man racked up a debt of AUD 4,000 in the shipboard casino. His family believes that the stress caused by the debt has led him to take his own life.

In an interview with Daily Mail Australia, Scott Dixon, Shane’s brother, said that the deceased man must have panicked.

His brain was probably going 100 miles an hour. He probably thought, “s***, I’ve done it again, I can’t afford it and I can’t ask mum for more money.“

Scott Dixon

Scott and the two men’s mother were aboard the Pacific Adventure together. The ship is owned and operated by P&O Australia, which was hosting an Elvis-themed cruise. Everything had been going well before Shane entered the shipboard casino.

Scott explained that his brother had been struggling financially for a while. The man had also been dealing with a broken marriage and the passing of their father and third brother. Scott believes that the casino might have incentivized Shane to play, taking advantage of his vulnerabilities.

The Casino Failed to Protect the Player

Australia’s Alliance for Gambling Reform weighed in on the matter. Carol Bennett, CEO of the organization, believes that Pacific Adventure has failed to provide Shane with sufficient duty of care. Bennett said that the fact that Pacific Adventure allowed something like that to happen is “really concerning.”

The rules that might apply on land no longer seem to apply and yet you would expect this cruise line would have some kind of duty of care to ensure that people are not plied with inducements, promotions and advertisements that are pushing them to gamble to extremely harmful levels.

Carol Bennett, CEO, Alliance for Gambling Reform

Since cruise ships operate casinos in international waters, they can bypass regional regulations and requirements. To make matters worse, some such ships’ gambling can be charged to their room bill, making it easier to overspend.

Bennett said that cruise ships should adopt at least some basic harm prevention measures, such as loss limits. If they don’t then governments would really need to address the matter, Bennett added.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO added that problem gambling is a huge issue in Australia and is affecting millions of families.  

VIP Member Says P&O Cruises’ Casinos Are Predatory

An anonymous high-roller who is a member of P&O Cruises’ VIP casino program, tipped Daily Mail off that the cruise company uses “predatory” strategies to promote its gambling products. While the player said that he always plans his spending carefully, he added that many players, especially vulnerable ones, will not.

They are essentially offshore casinos that come and pick people up from shore and take them out to international waters to gamble. If you don’t have the means to pay and you have an issue, there is no one to stop you so you can rack up a large amount of debt.

P&O high-roller

A P&O spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the company prefers to refrain from commenting on this tragic event while a coroner’s investigation is carried out. The representative, however, reassured the news outlet that her company’s casinos have Responsible Conduct of Gaming Policies in place across all ships and take them very seriously. The spokesperson concluded that her team would cooperate with the investigation.

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In an interview with Fox News, Sam Markstein, RJC’s political director, said that the Jewish community is “more energized than ever to turn the page from the failures, broken promises and betrayals by Joe Biden”

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Donald Trump has secured the backing of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) ahead of the upcoming elections. As announced, the non-profit has pledged to contribute $5 million to Trump’s reelection.

The RJC’s ambition is to forge a meaningful relationship between the Jewish community and Republican lawmakers. The organization’s overarching aim is to foster favorable relations between the United States and Israel.

RJC officials also intend to distribute an additional $15 million among other GOP candidates.

The contributions come amid the continued conflict between Israel and Hamas and decreased support from Biden’s government. In an interview with Fox News, Sam Markstein, RJC’s political director, said that the Jewish community is “more energized than ever to turn the page from the failures, broken promises and betrayals by Joe Biden.”

Political bettors are currently more likely to place their wagers on Trump winning the presidential elections. William Hill bettors’ wagers, for example, seem to suggest that the ex-president’s chances of winning the race are standing at approximately 55%.

The RJC Was Extensively Backed by LVS’ Founder

For context, the RJC was founded in 1985 and is based in Washington DC. The organization has significant lobbying power thanks to its past relationship with Sheldon Adelson, founder of the Las Vegas Sands casino and hospitality giant.

Adelson passed away three years ago but is still listed as a board member of the RJC board thanks to his incredible contributions to the non-profit organization. He has fueled RCJ’s Victory Fund with millions of dollars and, together with his wife, provided Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns with over $200 million.

In return, Trump, during his time as POTUS, moved the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as Adelson desired.

In other news, Trump Jr. recently criticized the Alabama Senate’s reluctance to pass a bill that would have allowed Alabama state residents to cast their vote on whether they would like to have a state lottery or not.

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Mohegan Sun boasts more than 300,000 square feet of gaming space, approximately 4,000 slots and over 300 gaming tables

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A lucky casino goer from Nassau Country, New York, has won a life-changing jackpot after a visit to the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. On Monday, the guest hit a $483,622.40 prize playing blackjack at the tribal venue.

The visitor won the Super 4 Progressive Jackpot – a prize offered to customers who place an additional $5 side bet on blackjack at the property. The side bet in question is offered on all blackjack tables at Mohegan Sun and is triggered when the dealer’s hand is a blackjack.

The size of the prize depends on the value and suit of the cards in the player and dealer’s hands.

The jackpot, Mohegan announced, was won on a blackjack table located in Casino of the Earth, which sports some 180,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment space. Casino of the Earth boasts 1,900 slot machines, 200+ table games and the Hall of the Lost Tribes, a special room with almost 400 slots and a poker room.

Overall, the Mohegan Sun property boasts more than 300,000 square feet of gaming space, approximately 4,000 slots and over 300 gaming tables.

This is not the only jackpot the Mohegan Sun property has handed in recent times. Soon after launching the Hold & Spin Slot Zone in Casino of the Sky, Mohegan handed a $100,000 jackpot to a visitor. In the meantime, a Dragon Link HD progressive jackpot at the venue is ripe for the picking, sitting at approximately $1.3 million as of the time of this writing.

Other Lucky Players Hit Jackpot Prizes

In other news, a single mom from South Carolina just won $2 million from a scratch-off ticket. While the woman said that she plans to continue her routine, she added that she plans to treat herself a little bit.  

For context, the lucky player bought a $20 200X The Cash ticket while on a trip to the supermarket.

Speaking of continuing one’s routine, a man from the United Kingdom recently admitted that he never told his family about a £4 million jackpot prize he won five years ago. Instead, the man stayed quiet, hired the services of an accountant and even kept his regular job.

The man said that he preferred to keep his win a secret because of an outstanding conflict with his family.

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The proposal stipulates that all casino license bids must be submitted by July 31, 2024, and requires the New York State Gaming Commission to approve three licenses by March 31, 2025

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New York state lawmakers Sen. Joseph Addabbo and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow have submitted a bill, which aims to expedite the process of awarding casino licenses in the New York City area.

New Bill Proposes Earlier Deadline for NYC Casino Licenses to Boost State Revenue

The proposal stipulates that all casino license bids must be submitted by July 31, 2024. The bill also requires the New York State Gaming Commission to approve three licenses by March 31, 2025. As a comparison, according to the current schedule, licenses have to be awarded by December 31, 2025.

Addabbo and Pretlow submitted the new bill as they consider the current timetable inefficient, reported The New York Post. They further added that it is delaying economic benefits for the state and believe that speeding up the licensing can generate billions of dollars in additional revenue for the state.

Addabbo noted that the prolonged timeline is holding up about 5,000 jobs and that a streamlined process needs to be implemented. The bill’s goal is not to benefit particular bidders but to eradicate the inefficiencies in the current system.

Some industry sources think that the current system is advantageous for those of the bidders who are facing political and zoning challenges. 

For example, Mets owner Steve Cohen, who proposed a $8 billion casino near Citi Field in Queens, and the Related Companies, proposing a $12 billion casino and office tower complex in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, are some of the projects that are dealing with such hurdles.

However, the accelerated timeline that Addabbo and Pretlow are proposing could benefit existing slot parlors like Resorts World at Aqueduct and MGM Empire City at Yonkers. To get a license, all these entities need to do is expand their facilities to include live card games.

New Legislation Proposes $500M Upfront Fee for NYC Casino Licenses

As per the new legislation proposal, every bidder that gets a license must pay an upfront license fee of at least $500 million. The bill also allows two years to resolve any legal or land-use issues.

However, there are some significant challenges. For example, Cohen’s project needs state legislative approval to redesignate parkland around Citi Field for commercial use. However, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, who represents the area, has not yet backed this approval.

Assemblyman Pretlow, whose district includes the Yonkers racino, has expressed his frustration over the slow pace of the process. He noted that New York state is potentially forfeiting $2 billion in revenue.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who oversees the gaming commission, has stated that she will review all legislation, which has been passed by both houses but has not made any statement either in support or against the accelerated casino licensing process. 

In addition to Cohen’s and Related Companies’ bids, other proposed casino projects in New York City include developments by SL Green/Caesars/Roc Nation in Times Square, Bally’s in The Bronx, Silverstein Properties in Hell’s Kitchen, and the Thor Equity consortium along the Coney Island boardwalk.

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Several players scored considerable victories, highlighting how fortune can strike at the most unexpected of times and transform a person’s life

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Several lucky players recently scored significant jackpots in US casinos, earning transformative amounts. These victories occurred across various games, highlighting the diverse offerings gamblers can enjoy in casinos. The jackpots also underscore the retail sector’s enduring popularity as venues focus on offering a unique and exciting experience that is impossible to get by gambling online.

Fortune Can Come from Anywhere

A gambler from Schaumburg, Illinois, hit a life-changing $536,614.25 progressive jackpot on 28 April at Four Winds New Buffalo Casino. The lucky player, who chose to remain anonymous, was playing the Dollar Storm Wild Ninja slot machine and won with a modest $5 bet. This significant win is part of a recent trend of big payouts at Four Winds Casinos, with over $3.2 million in high-profile jackpots awarded since the beginning of March.

In another thrilling win, a local Virginia resident scored a massive $1.259 million progressive jackpot at MGM National Harbor on 5 May. The fortunate player hit a Royal Flush of diamonds while playing Ultimate Texas Hold’em, marking one of the largest payouts ever recorded for this table game in the United States. Alex Alvarado, vice president of casino operations, expressed excitement over the win, highlighting the casino’s commitment to offering unforgettable experiences to its guests.

We’re thrilled that a local struck a big payday on one of our many table games that feature progressive jackpots.

Alex Alvarado, MGM National Harbor VP of casino operations

A Franklin Square, New York resident recently won nearly $500,000 at Mohegan Sun. Identified as “Maged K.” by the casino, the winner hit the “Super 4 Progressive Jackpot” while playing blackjack in the Casino of the Earth with a modest $5 side bet. The progressive jackpot, an optional side bet available at all Mohegan Sun blackjack tables, paid out $483,622.40 when the dealer’s hand resulted in a blackjack.

Such Wins Can Change Lives

Joseph Nardello, a Connecticut resident, had his dreams come true with a $1,904,062 win at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Nardello hit a spade royal flush on a game of Three Card Poker, triggering the mega tier of the Millionaire Progressive jackpot. This progressive, established in 2018, has created 14 millionaires to date. Nardello’s win is one of the largest in the history of the progressive jackpot at The Venetian.

Damon Howell from Union City, Ohio, celebrated his 21st birthday in grand style by winning a $362,640 jackpot at The LINQ Hotel + Experience in Las Vegas. Howell played Ultimate Texas Hold’em for about 30 minutes before hitting the impressive jackpot on 10 May. Surrounded by family and friends, the birthday celebration became unforgettable as Howell’s fun game night transformed into a substantial payday.

These recent high-profile jackpot wins underscore the excitement and potential for life-changing payouts at casinos across the United States. From slot machines to table games, players are hitting big and enjoying unforgettable moments, making these casinos popular destinations for those seeking their shot at fortune or just aiming to have a good time.

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