LAS VEGAS, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A Hawaiian visitor only had time to check into the California Hotel in downtown Las Vegas and have dinner before she hit the MegaJackpot(TM) on Wheel of Fortune® quarters Thursday evening to the tune of $3.7 million. This is the second MegaJackpots millionaire for the California in two months. The previous winner was also a tourist from Hawaii.
Hideko Sakamoto said she had played less than $20 in the machine before the three logos lined up. Her husband, Richard, was reluctant to leave a hot craps table until he heard just how much his wife had won. "We're still in shock," he said.
The Sakamotos come to Las Vegas several times a year. "We always have a good time. In fact, we usually run into friends from home -- people from Hawaii that we haven't seen in ages," Richard said.
Hideko says she plans to share her good fortune with her five children and ten grandchildren. "It will probably go to several colleges as tuition," she said.
Wheel of Fortune® is based on the world's most popular game show and is one of 18 Nevada MegaJackpots systems operated by IGT® (NYSE: IGT - news), the world leader in the manufacturing of gaming machines and proprietary software for progressive gaming systems. All IGT MegaJackpots are paid in annual installments upon verification, except Regis' Cash Club(TM), $1,000,000 Pyramid(TM), Elvis®, The Addams Family(TM), Party Time(TM), and video Jeopardy!® which are paid in their entirety upon verification.
For more information on IGT, visit the company web site at http://www.IGT.com.
