T.O. man wins more than $5.7 million to break record
set at Casino Niagara
NIAGARA FALLS, ON, Oct. 30 /CNW/ – A Toronto tax accountant won the
largest slot machine jackpot in Canadian history at Niagara Fallsview Casino
Resort Saturday afternoon.
Nick Hulst was playing one of Fallsview’s Megabucks progressive slot
machines just before noon when all three Megabucks logos lined up on the
machine he was playing, making him $5,781,854.41 richer.
The win came just moments before Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin
arrived at Fallsview Casino to address members of the Ontario Caucus of the
federal Liberal party during their annual general meeting, which was being
held in the property’s Grand Hall.
“What a Saturday for the property,” said Larry Lewin, President, Niagara
Casinos. “We host the Prime Minister of Canada and break a national slot
jackpot record all in the same day.”
The win is the largest since the popular Megabucks machines were first
installed at Casino Niagara, Casino Windsor and Casino Rama in June, 2001,
and breaks the record of $5.6 million set at Casino Niagara on Valentine’s
Day, 2002.
To date, Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara have given
away almost $17 million in top-prize Megabucks jackpots.
Megabucks is a progressive slot machine system created by International
Gaming Technology. The machines were first introduced in Las Vegas casinos in
1986. Since then, they have become famous for their large jackpots.
In 2003, Megabucks machines were introduced at five charity casinos
throughout Ontario – Casino Sault Ste. Marie, Brantford Charity Casino, Point
Edward Charity Casino, Thunder Bay Charity Casino and Thousand Islands Charity
Casino.
The Megabucks machines at all nine properties are linked to a single
Megabucks jackpot that begins at $1 million and climbs until a customer at any
one of the eight participating properties hits the winning payline. The
counters are immediately reset to $1 million at all nine properties whenever
the top prize is awarded.
Four people have won Megabucks jackpots at Casino Niagara:
– “Rita-Anna”, 57, of Stoney Creek, Ontario, won $2.86 million on
August 2, 2002
– Doris Wendt, 68, of North Tonawanda, NY, won $5.6 million on
February 14, 2002
– Maryam Talini of Mississauga, Ontario, won $1.3 million on
July 21, 2001
– Pam Fowler of Stoney Creek, Ontario, won $1.3 million on July 7, 2001
There have also been four Megabucks wins at other Ontario casinos:
– On February 28, 2004, a Windsor, Ontario, man won more than
$4.5 million at Casino Windsor
– On August 7, 2003, a man from Essex County, Ontario, won more than
$2.6 million at Casino Windsor
– On April 18, 2003, a man from LaSalle, Ontario, won almost $2 million
at Casino Windsor
– On October 20, 2002, a woman from Parry Sound, Ontario, won more than
$2.3 million at Casino Rama
– On April 8, 2002, a Michigan man won just over $1.8 million at
Casino Windsor
For further information: Greg Medulun, Manager, Corporate
Communications, (905) 358-3255, ext. 53013,
gmedulun@fallsviewcasinoresort.com
