Gambler spends $25 on slot machine — then wins life-changing prize at Florida casino

A gambler in Florida “ended the year on a high note” after winning more than a $1 million jackpot prize.

The guest sat at a Dragon Link slot machine Dec. 30 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, the casino said in a Jan. 3 news release.

Then the player bet $25, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen until a jackpot message appeared. The amount was $1,055,817.49.

“This marks the sixth million-dollar progressive jackpot since April hit at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, demonstrating a winning streak,” the casino said in the release.

The casino has “3,500 progressive machines” for gamblers.

Other players have gotten lucky at slot machines at the Tampa casino.

One player bet $5 on a Dragon Link machine and won over $119,000.

Another person playing the same game bet $10 and won over $103,000.

This story was originally published January 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Gambler spends $25 on slot machine — then wins life-changing prize at Florida 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.