Las Vegas is once again proving its reputation as the capital of big wins as more players have walked away with life-changing jackpots in recent days.
Key Takeaways
- Two Las Vegas slot players recently won jackpots exceeding $1 million.
- The latest was a $1.3-million prize on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine.
- IGT continues to expand its Wheel of Fortune brand across casinos and online platforms.
At the Aria Resort & Casino, a player secured a $1,267,504 prize on the Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin Triple Gold slot machine, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The individual, who won on a $10 wager, opted to remain anonymous.
Across town, a fortunate bettor recently struck the jackpot while playing the Dragon Link slots machine at Circa Resort & Casino. After betting $250, the bettor was rewarded with more than $1 million.
The casino verified the report on social media, stating the player elected to remain anonymous. Circa has hosted a number of significant victories in recent months, including another worth just over $1 million in March via a Dollar Storm machine.
The wins arrive during a strong period for casino earnings. Q2 revenue for traditional casino gaming rose 2.8% year-on-year, with slots and table games generating $12.83 billion, according to the American Gaming Association.
Wheel of Fortune casino games expand their Vegas presence
News of the big wins comes as International Game Technology (IGT) broadens the presence of its Wheel of Fortune franchise throughout casinos and online outlets. In April, Las Vegas hosted the release of Wheel of Fortune Video Poker at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino.
The game combines video poker rules with the recognizable graphics and elements of the long-running TV show, including a Wheel Bonus and game show-like puzzle-solving mechanisms.
IGT further strengthened the brand's position in 2023 by signing a 10-year licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television. This deal allows IGT to roll out Wheel of Fortune content across lottery, iGaming, and land-based markets.
The partnership with BetMGM has also brought the brand into online gaming. The Wheel of Fortune Online Casino first launched in New Jersey, offering players access to branded slots such as Wheel of Fortune Megaways and Wheel of Fortune Power Wedges.
Following its success in the Garden State, the online casino entered Ontario's regulated market a year later, bringing the franchise to Canadian players.
Tourism pressures hit Las Vegas
While casinos are still seeing jackpot winners and increased game options, Las Vegas hospitality is seeing larger problematic trends. About 3.1 million people visited in June, an 11% drop from the same month last year, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported.
International travel was especially low, falling 13%, and overall hotel occupancy fell 15%.
National forecasts support the slowdown. Research firm Tourism Economics recently reversed its December 2024 outlook, now predicting a 9.4% decline in international arrivals for 2025.
