Gambler bets $5 on slot machine — then hits jackpot at Las Vegas casino

A lucky gambler visiting from Utah ended up walking away from a Las Vegas casino with a big jackpot prize.

The person sat at a Dragon Link slot machine Aug. 29 at The Orleans Hotel & Casino, Boyd Gaming said in a news release.

The player bet $5, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen until a jackpot message appeared.

The gambler won more than $131,000.

After the win, they had a remaining credit of $113 on the machine.

But that wasn’t the only big jackpot win at the casino.

Another gambler from Missouri sat at a Dragon Link slot Sept. 6 and bet $50. The player won $102,471.

The Orleans Hotel & Casino is about a 2-mile drive west from the Strip. It’s decorated to resemble the New Orleans French Quarter and Mardi Gras.

This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Gambler bets $5 on slot machine — then hits jackpot at Las Vegas casino."

Helena Wegner

McClatchy DC

Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.