An out-of-state visitor has won over $2.1 million playing slots in Las Vegas. The lucky player was visiting the Palms Casino Resort on the famed Vegas Strip when they won this life-changing sum.

As it turns out, the spectacular prize was won on a $3 wager. The player in question was playing a Wheel of Fortune slot on July 26 when they finally hit the jackpot.

At the time of the destiny-defining spin, the player had only 46 cents remaining, marking a thrilling end to their gaming session. As the last spin ended, the player was prompted to contact a casino official to verify the win.

The exact sum the player won stood at $2,170,581

Palms Casino Resort shared a commemorative group photo featuring the victor, celebrating their win on its Facebook channel.

„When you win over $2 million… you take a group pic,” Palms Casino Resort said on its post.

People in the comments also congratulated the player, impressed by the fact that they won more than $2 million from a $3 bet while only 46 cents remained in their wallet.

Other Players Across America Secure Significant Wins

This isn’t the only recent high-profile win in Las Vegas, though. A few days ago, Allen Kessler, a professional poker player, decided to play slots for a change and won a jackpot of over $1.2 million.

The significant prize was won on a Buffalo slot by Aristocrat on a $125 bet. At the time of his win, Kessler had been playing for some 12 hours, according to his statement.

Despite being best known for his poker exploits, Kessler shared that he loves playing Buffalo slots.

In other news, a Wisconsin man just won the $4.3 million Megabucks jackpot, securing the biggest prize ever handed by the game. The man revealed that he had been playing for decades before hitting such a significant prize.

Elsewhere, a man from Maryland won $1 million after deciding to buy a cheaper ticket than the one he had initially eyed. The man felt that his wife would have been unhappy if she’d learned he’d paid $30 for a ticket, so he went with a $20 ticket instead. This turned out to be a life-changing choice as it instantly turned him into Maryland’s newest millionaire.

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The player was playing Bison Fury, a progressive jackpot game developed in-house by Entain, which is an investor and co-owner in BetMGM as part of a co-venture with MGM Resorts International. The player had placed a 40-cent bet, turning it into a $1 million payout.

From 40 Cents to Million Dollars

They were playing out of Southfield, Michigan, making it one of the biggest wins on the game to date. The person was not officially revealed by the company, and they had won in April, but news about their feat is only circulating now.

Bison Fury offers an all-ways payout gameplay along with 1,000 fixed winning combinations, bonus spins, and so much more. Yet, these were not the only jackpot wins that BetMGM wanted to boast about in a recent press release.

The company also drew attention to “The Big One Colossal Cash” jackpot paid out to a winner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at MGM Grand Millions Megaways on Borgata Online. The player won $525,726 from their wager.

Once again, MGM Grand Millions Megaways is an in-house jackpot game developed by Entain with the goal of popularizing the BetMGM brand and establishing it as one of the hottest online places to enjoy when you are after jackpots.

Commenting on this opportunity, BetMGM VP of Gaming Angus Nisbet cheered on the success of the two mystery winners over the past months and celebrated their achievements. Borgata Online and BetMGM love making moments like those even more memorable, Nisbet noted.

Somewhat relevantly, another player hit a $3 million jackpot in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.

From Borgata to BetMGM – Jackpots Await

Nisbet also pointed out a new jackpot program that has been launched by BetMGM in order to create further synergies between players’ online and physical experiences. Overall, BetMGM has been doing very well in terms of total jackpots awarded.

The company has reported $138 million paid out in progressive jackpots to players in 2023 alone, a 32% year-over-year increase, and one of the largest in the country.

Bison Fury and MGM Grand Million Megaways have been the main source of such payouts. This averages $11.5 million in jackpots paid out every month throughout 2023, the company explained. DraftKings recently revealed its jackpot numbers for May 2024, arguing that it had paid out $11.7 million in the month alone.

BetMGM is hoping to close the gap between itself and other local casino and sports betting brands in the United States, with the company showing the most potential in the iGaming sector.

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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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Virgin Bet has introduced its inaugural Women’s Day event – a celebration that will provide appreciation to the women in racing and nurture an inclusive environment.

The social event will take place at the Virgin Bet Raceday on March 9 at Ayr Racecourse, allowing the operator to extensively promote its message. The Women’s Day event is notably a part of the gambling company’s A Good Bet initiative, showcasing the operator’s commitment to promoting inclusivity.

The new event will see Virgin Bet empower women in racing. The operator will therefore offer a variety of exclusive experiences to players, such as providing female visitors with the opportunity to pick the Best Turned Out Award before each race and present the trophies to the eventual victors.

In addition, Virgin Bet will team up with WalkSafe, an app developed to help women feel safe when walking alone. The operator will also make a donation to Ayr Racecourse’s charity partner, Ayrshire Cancer Support.

Virgin Bet Wants to Celebrate the Uncelebrated

In addition to other activations, Virgin Bet has also teamed up with presenter Natalie Pike who agreed to host the Women’s Day events. Commenting on the matter, Pike said that she is excited to be a part of this project and hopes to inspire “the next generation of incredible women working in horse racing.”

Sport is for everyone, and activations such as this are crucial to ensuring inclusivity and safety for women at events, and ultimately heroing the brilliant people who work in the sport.

Natalie Pike

Virgin Bet’s marketing director, Ric Leask, also commented on the initiative, saying that his team wants to provide exposure and support to the many women in the horse racing industry. According to Leask, these women are, sadly, often uncelebrated and un-thanked.

Leask concluded: “At Virgin Bet, as part of our “A Good Bet” brand campaign, we want to make sport more accessible and to highlight brilliance, no matter who the subject, and this initiative is doing exactly that.”

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Flutter-owned gambling operator Sky Bet has formed a new partnership with Incentive Games, a leading B2B games provider, to release a new soccer-themed game. The new game will see Sky Bet explore opportunities within the iGaming sector as it seeks to channel more players toward its products.

The new game is called Match 5 and will allow Sky Bet to differentiate its online offering from its competitors. Combining elements of iGaming and sports betting, the new game allows fans to visit the Sky Bet app daily to collect a different Premier League team.

The teams players get are picked at random, adding a layer of unpredictability to the product. In addition, players can get up to £20 in free bets depending on how many of their teams win at the weekend.

Match 5 is now available to all new and eligible Sky Bet customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The official launch was held on February 12, providing fans with a new opportunity to explore the world of professional soccer.

In an update on LinkedIn, Incentive Games pointed out that the new product has enjoyed “phenomenal uptake” in the first week. The provider is excited to see how this partnership with Sky Bet will evolve.

Match 5 Will Be a Game-Changer

John Gordon, Incentive Games’ co-founder and chief executive officer, said that his team is very excited about the game. He described it as a “classic example of simple insight, easy accessibility and engagement,” saying that it will be a way for soccer aficionados to take their experience to the next level.

Combined with Sky Bet’s scale, this is a real game-changer.

John Gordon, co-founder & CEO, Incentive Games

In the meantime, Dan Colton, managing director at Sky Bet, said that Match 5 is the “culmination of months of hard work.” He praised Incentive Games’ team for its incredible work on the game and said that Sky Bet cannot wait to see how customers interact with it.

The beauty of the game is that it’s a really creative way of rewarding football fans that replicates the thrill of an acca but is totally free to play.

Dan Colton, MD, Sky Bet

A month ago, Sky Bet altered its best odds guaranteed (BOG) promotion, restraining access to active Sky Bet Club loyalty program members. Despite these changes, Sky Bet remained convinced of the success of the offering.

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Sky Bet recently announced adjustments to its best odds guaranteed (BOG) promotion, restricting access to active Sky Bet Club loyalty scheme members. Effective 15 January, customers must stake £30 within the previous week’s qualifying period to avail themselves of this offering. The operator was confident it would remain competitive despite these changes, highlighting the benefits of Sky Bet Club.

This decision marks the latest move among leading bookmakers to either limit or remove the popular promotion. October saw Flutter-owned operator Betfair axe this option for horse and greyhound racing. Industry giant William Hill followed suit in December, limiting the offering and setting this ongoing trend. The promotion likely failed to entice customers to pay more, making it unsustainable in the long run.

Sky Bet’s changing policy also eliminates the 10% bonuses on winning forecasts and the 15% bonuses on successful tricasts. The operator had already ceased best odds guaranteed in races offering additional each-way places, heralding the upcoming broader change. Sky Bet head of sports PR Michael Shinners addressed the modifications, highlighting ongoing industry trends.

Best Odds Guaranteed is an offer that many bookmakers have modified or even pulled altogether over the past 18 months.

Michael Shinners, Sky Bet head of sports PR

Shinners discussed the situation for Racing Post, emphasizing BOG’s integration into Sky Bet Club, highlighting it as the leading loyalty scheme in the industry. He added that the most recent decision would ensure that most horseracing customers could continue enjoying the promotion alongside more of Sky Bet’s premiere offerings.

Sky Bet Aims to Consolidate Its Bonus Offerings

When asked about potential implications where punters might increase their spending to access the promotion, Shinners reaffirmed that the Sky Bet Club has consistently required a minimum £30 stake per week for eligibility and that the recent changes would hopefully increase participation in the program. He also underscored Sky Bet’s ongoing support for racing, drawing attention to the upcoming 2024 Sky Bet Sunday Series.

Despite limiting one of its most popular promotions, SkyBet starts the year with significant momentum after a successful 2023. Last year saw the operator conclude several high-profile partnerships with leading leagues and suppliers, bolstering its competitiveness and allowing it to retain its leadership position in the UK.

Sky Bet’s BOG policy changes echo similar shifts made by other bookmakers recently, aligning with industry trends amid rising media rights costs. The operator likely aims to provide more personalized customer service, bolstering customer engagement and hopefully exposing more users to its loyalty scheme. While this move will likely prove unpopular with some bettors, Sky Bet likely hopes it will improve long-term profitability.

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At the 11th Annual Truist Securities GLLR Summit in Boston last week, the buzz surrounding the debut of ESPN Bet dominated conversations among gaming enthusiasts. The anticipation even found its way into the analysis by Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas, who dedicated a significant portion of his conclave summary to the groundbreaking sports betting app.

Penn Entertainment Celebrates Success as ESPN Bet Emerges in 17 States with 4.9-Star Ratings

ESPN Bet, a joint venture between Penn Entertainment and ESPN, has already gone live in 17 states and provinces, garnering praise for its impressive download metrics, which have surpassed the 2 million mark. Penn Entertainment expressed its satisfaction with the app’s performance, highlighting a stellar 4.9-star rating from online reviews.

Investors are eyeing a 5% market share for ESPN Bet, despite the absence of early financial reports. Jonas observed that early data indicated that Penn was expanding the market, demonstrating an encouraging influx of female players, which he interpreted as a testament to the influence of the ESPN brand.

While the retention of customers remains uncertain, executives at Penn are optimistic, noting increased spending on wagers even as promotional funds dwindle. Despite a challenging November in terms of hold, Jonas observed strong initial wagering volumes and anticipated growth in promotional allocations.

Addressing concerns raised by Jonas, Penn executives assured that issues such as the speed of cash withdrawals and parlay treatment of pushed legs are being actively addressed, with expectations of the application becoming an “industry standard” in the first quarter of the coming year.

ESPN’s Bet Mode Set to Debut for Super Bowl

Looking ahead, ESPN plans to introduce its Bet Mode within the media app in time for the Super Bowl. The long-term vision includes integration with ESPN’s existing fantasy sports app.

The spotlight shifted to New York state, where ESPN Bet aims to secure a pivotal presence. Discussions are underway to acquire an Empire State license from an existing operator, with hopes of approval and entry in the coming year. However, the app faced a setback in Connecticut, losing out on an online license to newcomer Fanatics due to unfortunate timing.

According to an earlier analysis by Chad Beynon from financial services company Macquarie, ESPN Bet is off to a promising start, securing a notable market share in states like Iowa, Maryland, and Indiana. Despite being in its early days and not yet on par with established brands like BetMGM, DraftKings, or FanDuel, ESPN Bet has shown steady growth, posting a 16% increase in average handle in the three outlined states and surpassing 1.1 million downloads in its first week across 17 total states. 

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Kambi, a B2B provider of sports betting services, has reported that the arrival of the soccer legend Lionel Messi at Inter Miami has led to an unprecedented spike in Major League Soccer betting activity.

As reported by the sports betting specialist, the popularity of Inter Miami and the MLS as a whole has skyrocketed, leading to a whopping 33% increase in bets on the MLS compared to 2022. This announcement comes ahead of the MLS Cup this weekend and highlights the growing growth of soccer and betting in the US.

For reference, Lionel Messi, who previously helped Argentina win the FIFA 2022 World Cup, joined Inter Miami in July, revitalizing interest in the MLS and MLS betting among Kambi’s operator partners.

In fact, Inter Miami quickly cemented itself as the most bet on MLS team of the year thanks to the addition of Messi to its roster. For reference, the ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player forward played six times and scored four goals in the MLS. Inter Miami also participated in 8 of the 10 most bet on games during the season.

Prior to the acquisition of Messi, Inter Miami was only the 15th most bet on team.

Messi Helped Inter Miami Rise

Messi’s contribution to Inter Miami is not surprising considering the soccer star’s immense popularity. The player quickly cemented himself as the most bet on player in the MLS over the past four years, exceeding the bets on Denis Bouanga, the second most bet on player, by a whopping 140%.

Kambi’s head of soccer, Jonathon Hurst, commented on Messi’s contribution to the MLS, saying that it is a “landmark moment” the importance of which cannot be understated. According to Hurst, the popularity of Inter Miami is poised to explode even further as Messi is about to be joined by his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.

Hurst added that Messi has an undisputable global appeal that will continue to positively affect his team.

Messi’s global appeal and star power have captured the attention of fans worldwide, and this has translated into a significant increase in betting engagement on MLS matches.
Jonathon Hurst, head of soccer, Kambi

Speaking of Kambi, the group just proceeded with a $3 million share buyback program that will be conducted over several transactions on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Stockholm.

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DraftKings CEO, Jason Robins, has expressed confidence in the company’s position in the online gaming market, stating that the recent launch of ESPN Bet does not pose a threat to DraftKings’ trajectory. 

DraftKings CEO Jason Robins Stresses Product Excellence

Speaking at the 3rd Annual Craig-Hallum Online Gaming Conference, Robins acknowledged the competitive landscape but emphasized DraftKings’ focus on maintaining a strong product and staying true to its playbook.

Despite the significant impact of ESPN Bet’s launch, with over a million downloads in the first six days, Robins remains optimistic about DraftKings’ market standing. He highlighted the company’s history of facing waves of competition and its ability to navigate through them successfully. Robins mentioned that ESPN Bet seems to be playing for the long term rather than making a short-lived splash, and he welcomed the potential for market growth brought by new players and innovations.

Robins stressed the importance of having the best product, citing it as a key factor in DraftKings’ ability to outperform in the market. He believes that a superior product leads to organic benefits in terms of customer acquisition and lifetime value. The CEO expressed confidence in DraftKings’ playbook, emphasizing that sticking to it will yield positive results regardless of competitive challenges.

Robins Unveils DraftKings’ Next Moves with Progressive Parlays, iGaming Success, and More

Looking ahead, DraftKings is set to launch progressive parlays in the coming weeks, offering sports bettors a chance to win consolation prizes even if all legs of their parlays do not hit. Robins sees this as a differentiated product that will meet customer demand.

On the iGaming front, Robins considers it a hidden gem for DraftKings, noting the company’s success in gaining market share, especially in the face of initial doubts about reaching close to 30%. He expressed enthusiasm about the untapped potential of iGaming, highlighting the company’s bullish stance and significant investments in the product.

Robins also briefly touched on the potential for international expansion and new product verticals in the longer term. While acknowledging these opportunities, he emphasized the current focus on the existing market and the upside within the United States, emphasizing the benefit of maintaining a singular focus:

“I think, we would be executing well anyway, but I have to say it is at least in part due to the fact that we are really focused on one geography and on winning there. And I think if you look at some of our competitors, they are not so or they are focused on other lines of business.”

In other recent news, DraftKings launched Pick6, a new peer-to-peer fantasy sports game available in six US states, including Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

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Premier online betting operator in the UK by number of customers that provides pre-match and in-play odds in a variety of markets, Sky Betting & Gaming (Sky Bet), has made a donation of over £250,000 ($313,500) to the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF), one of Yorkshire’s top charities.

The announcement was made during SBG’s Annual Charity Gala held in Leeds earlier in the week when hundreds of staff members and guests reunited for a fund-raiser hosted by ITV Racing’s Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin.

Flutter UK & Ireland Donated £120,000

While the silent auction, sponsorship packages, Mascot Race, and raffle prizes all contributed to raising an important amount throughout the night, Sky Bet’s parent company Flutter UK & Ireland (Flutter UKI) decided to add a further £120,000 to the list of donations. 

This way, the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit will afford to buy a new, top-tier echo software package that would allow them to use advanced software for highly detailed heart analysis.

At the head of the year, the staff at Sky Bet voted to support the CHSF. Ever since they have been involved in a series of fund-raising challenges and activities with the goal of raising money for the charity that does not receive any funds from the government.

In the past eight years since it has been running its charity event, Sky Bet has managed to raise approximately £800,000 ($872,000) that reached local and nationwide charities. The list includes Macmillan Cancer, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Support Dogs, and Teenage Cancer.

The company’s chief commercial officer, Steve Birch, called the Charity Gala one of their “proudest moments” while praising the work done by the staff to raise money for the cause that he called exceptional.

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) is a not-for-profit organization that provides lifesaving and life-changing support for children with congenital heart disease across Yorkshire.

Sky Bet’s “Life-Changing” Contribution, Praised by CHSF

CHSF’s head of marketing, Andy McNally, spoke about the “life-changing contribution from Sky Betting & Gaming and Flutter UKI” that is expected to make a huge difference in terms of treatment for patients suffering from congenital heart diseases. 

He added that the fresh donations will support both patients and their families and provide them with the “best possible experience” at the Congenital Heart Unit as well as other 19 cardiac clinics in the area. 

McNally thanked the Sky Bet staff and everyone who helped organize the event. Each year, the CHSF takes in more than 17,000 patients of all ages. 

In August, Sky Betting and Gaming announced it would continue to promote safer gambling practices together with the English Football League.

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