After months of build up after long passing the former record payout for the slot, the Mega Moolah jackpot has finally paid out and with it the record win of £13,213,838.68 was won by a 26-year old British soldier Jonathon Heywood from Cheshire.
The popular Microgaming slot, known around the world as the "Millionaire Maker" has seen its jackpot growing since it was last won by a Canadian player called Mark, who took home $7.5m in Canadian dollars, the equivalent of around £3.5m in British Pounds.
After that win in April, the slot was seeded with the minimum fund of £1m and since then players have been steadily playing hoping that they would be the next lucky winner.
By the summer, the Mega jackpot had already swelled to more than the previous record, which was held by another UK resident, John Orchard of Lincolnshire who won a jackpot in excess of £5.8 million back in December 2012.
It was clear that someone was in line for a payout and the frenzy that followed saw more and more players trying their luck at the game which saw the jackpot creep over the £10m mark, then the £11m mark, £12m mark and then just a week or so ago, it reached an unprecedented £13m.
In the end, it was the 26-year old from Crewe who won the jackpot on the 6th October. The soldier, who has served a tour in Afghanistan, was playing the slot for 25p a spin at Betway Casino when the Mega Moolah Jackpot Bonus Game flashed up on screen.
This time, instead of the Mini, Minor or Major jackpot being won, it was THE Mega jackpot that the soldier landed, pocketing a stunning £13.2m jackpot.
After his win, Jonathon stated: "It's all so surreal and I can't come to terms with it just yet. I just keep staring at my screen and seeing this huge number in my Betway account."
It's some good news for the Crewe-based soldier in what has been a tough year that has seen hid grandfather die and his father suffering in need of a heart and lung transplant. Jonathon has vowed that he will use his windfall firstly to secure the best possible treatment for his father.
Alan Alger, a spokesman for Betway Casino added: "We are delighted for Jonathon and having met him the day after his win, we can honestly say that this couldn't (have) happen(ed) to a nicer young man. We hope he really enjoys the world record win."
Following the news of the biggest win on their flagship slot, Microgaming CEO Roger Raatgever was also quick to add his congratulations to the winner: "We have the longest-standing progressive jackpot network, having launched the first internet progressive jackpot in 1998, as we as the biggest having paid out half a billion euros to date" Raatgever stated on Sunday.
"Our progressive jackpot network has set many records since its inception, but I'm absolutely overjoyed to say that our software has generated the world's largest ever online jackpot win. Many congratulations to Jonathon on his life-changing and historic win!"
The signs are that after having sorted treatment for his father out, Jonathon plans to do just that.
"It's amazing" Jonathon stated "The first thing I will spend it on is the best possible medical treatment for my dad. That's more important than anything. Family comes first and I'd give all this money back for him to be healthy again."
He will then use some of his money to treat himself to something a little flashier to drive.
"I'm trying not to get carried away and I really don't know what else I'm going to buy with the money, apart from a yellow Bentley Continental GT."
"I've never even dreamed of driving a Bentley, let alone owning one. I've got a Fiat Punto at the moment!" he told reporters. Despite winning the money on the 6th October, Jonathon was so stunned that he turned in for work the next day.
Since then the Mega Moolah jackpot has been reset back to its seeding amount of a million and players are already trying to be the next player to land a big jackpot.
Read more about the Mega Moolah winners or visit Betway Casino.
LINK http://www.megamoolah.com/news/record-breaking-132m-mega-moolah-jackpot-won-by-26-year-old-uk-soldier-64
The dream of being a Lottery jackpot winner has come true for a Three Rivers woman who won a $310.5 ...
The dream of being a Lottery jackpot winner has come true for a Three Rivers woman who won a $310.5 million Powerball jackpot from the Michigan Lottery.
Julie Leach, 50, matched all of the winning numbers drawn in the Sept. 30 Powerball drawing: 21-39-40-55-59 and the Powerball, 17, to win the enormous jackpot. Leach's big win marks the third time a Michigan player has won the Powerball jackpot. The $310.5 million jackpot is the second-largest ever won in the state.
"I've played the Lottery for a long time and have dreamed of this day, but I never thought it would actually come," said Leach. "I have been in shock since I checked my ticket Thursday morning, and I don't know if it will ever wear off." Leach bought her winning ticket about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Three Rivers West Shell gas station, located at 1223 West Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. Three Rivers is about 30 miles south of Kalamazoo.
"My boyfriend told me I should stop and buy some Powerball tickets on my way to work because the jackpot was so huge," said Leach. "I stopped at the Shell station and bought 10 Powerball plays for $20. When I got back to my car I tossed the tickets in my console and went to work."
During her lunch break about 1 a.m., Leach was waiting for her food in a drive through lane when she remembered she had purchased tickets for the Powerball drawing.
"It seemed like it was taking forever to get my food, so I pulled out my cellphone and checked my Powerball tickets," said Leach. "First, I checked to see if I had matched the Powerball number. When I saw I had matched it, I started checking the numbers on that line one-by-one. When I saw I had matched three, I remember thinking: 'Well that's pretty cool, I won like $200.'
"When I saw that I had matched all five numbers and the Powerball, I just couldn't believe it. I must have checked and re-checked my ticket 10 times."
When Leach returned to work, she quietly asked a couple of co-workers to double check her ticket.
"Both of my co-workers thought I was playing a joke on them," said Leach. "One of my co-workers was sure it was a hoax, but after a few minutes he said 'Get the hell out of here, you're a winner!' That is exactly what I did, I clocked out for the final time of my 20-year career and went home."
Once home, she woke up her boyfriend of 36 years, Vaughn Avery, to tell him the life changing news.
"I was in a deep sleep and had actually been dreaming that we had won the Lottery with the tickets I told her to buy," said Avery. "As soon as I heard her voice I knew something was going on, but I didn't think she was going to tell me she had won Powerball."
"Vaughn couldn't believe what I was telling him," said Leach. "We sat in the living room of our house for hours laughing and crying, trying to process what was happening and how our lives had changed. We would have been pleased with $500,000 or $1 million, to win $310.5 million is unbelievable.
"About 4:30 a.m., Vaughn said he needed to get ready to go to work, and I told him he was never working again."
Next the couple shared the good news with their two children and their families.
Leach chose to receive her $310.5 million jackpot as a one-time lump sum payment of $197.4 million, rather than an annuity. After tax withholdings, she will receive about $140 million.
With her winnings, Leach plans to pay off her bills, purchase a new home for herself and Avery, as well as a new home for each of their children, and travel with her family.
"To know that we will be debt free is an incredible feeling," Leach said. "Vaughn and I have worked so hard all of our lives to provide for our family and now we can all relax and enjoy spending time together."
"It's wonderful to know that my kids will be taken care of and won't have to work like I did. They'll be able to enjoy life, and that makes me incredibly happy," she said wiping away a tear.
LINK http://www.powerball.com/powerball/winners/2015/MI_Leach_093015.shtml
Two lucky players won progressive jackpots on slots and table games over the New Year's weekend. ...
Two lucky players won progressive jackpots on slots and table games over the New Year's weekend.
Linda, an Elite Rewards Club member from Galt, Calif., was visiting Red Hawk with her son to celebrate the New Year. They were having a great time playing some of their favorite slots. Linda said she had been on a lucky streak all day and wanted to try out the new Triple Blazin' 7s ™ Quick Hit Platinum slot machine. After playing for less than 20 minutes the video symbols revealed the top progressive payout of $210,059. It took Linda a moment to realize she'd won, and she was in shock to see she'd hit a six-figure jackpot.
The winning continued throughout the holiday weekend with a Fortune Pai Gow Poker progressive jackpot. A Platinum Rewards Club member from Elk Grove, who wished to remain anonymous, was at Red Hawk enjoying some of her favorite table games. As Red Hawk Casino offers a $1 Pai Gow Progressive side bet, the lowest in Northern California, she decided to try her luck. Our lucky winner placed the small side bet and was dealt a seven card straight flush that resulted in a $91,503 progressive jackpot.
"Red Hawk continues to provide guests with a large variety of table games and slots, along with first-class customer service, proving once again why we are voted Sacramento's 'Best Casino'," says Bryan deLugo, general manager.
Red Hawk Casino has been awarding more jackpots, to more winners, more often. Visit www.redhawkcasino.com to see all of the recent winners or download the all-new myRedHawk™ mobile app. Red Hawk Casino is conveniently located on Highway 50 at Red Hawk Parkway. Call 888-573-3495 for more information.
Linda celebrates a $210,059 slot jackpot at Red Hawk Casino.
