NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Working Mom Hits Jackpot Of $5.1 Million At Casino

A 30-year-old single mother of two won $5.1 million in a $1 progressive slot machine at a casino on February, one of Northern California's largest slot payoffs.

"At first, they told me it was $500,000 and I was excited about that, obviously," said the winner, who is not being identified publicly because she fears it will affect her job. "And then they told me it was $5 million, and it took me a few minutes for it to sink in. And a lot of shaking and crying and trying to breathe."
The casino has 24 progressive jackpot machines, which are linked to other similar machines at more than 40 casinos statewide. Each machine's intake goes into a common pot from which the payoffs are made. Three other progressive machines have paid in excess of $900,000 in recent months, casino officials said.

The winner said she'll no longer have to worry about paying for college for her 8-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son, and she'll be able to care for her mother. Beyond that, "it's overwhelming to think about what the future holds."

Historic Casino: Castaways Closes

The Castaways closed its casino and hotel Thursday, putting about 800 employees out of work at the 49-year-old property formerly called the Showboat. The closure of a second historic Las Vegas casino this month came after creditor Vestin Mortgage, acting under authority of a U.S. Bankruptcy Court order, notified Castaways owner VSS Enterprises it would enter the casino and collect its collateral backing a mortgage loan.
Industry insiders expect the bankrupt property to remain closed, forcing its workers to seek new jobs. When Vestin officials showed up, the casino's table game pit was immediately closed, and workers began a slow trek around the property, turning off banks of slot machines.
Hotel guests were told to vacate the premises, but at least one man toting a suitcase through the lobby Thursday evening said he'd had his Thursday room rate refunded when he checked out.

Wheel Of Fortune(R) Pays Nearly $5 Million

Wheel of Fortune® slots hit twice in Las Vegas paying the two winners a total of nearly $5 million. The first jackpot struck on a quarter machine mid-afternoon for a payout of $1.5 million; then, hours later, another winner hit a $3.4 million jackpot at another casino. Both winners said they were dumbstruck at their stroke of luck and were having a hard time believing they really had won million dollar jackpots.

The winner, Michael Cooper, 58, of Lake Forest, Calif., said he and his wife try to come to Las Vegas about once a month and always play. Cooper said both he and his wife are dedicated Wheel of Fortune® players and he plans to use his windfall to buy a home and have a great life.

Jon Proctor, who won $3.4 on a dollar Wheel of Fortune® machine a few hours later, was in Las Vegas as a birthday gift. The Jamesville, N.Y. man said a friend had given him and his wife the trip for their birthdays. Already retired, Proctor said he wants to buy a boat and will spend his jackpot to have a carefree retirement.

Reno Woman Pleads Guilty In Club Cal Neva Robbery

A Reno woman has pleaded guilty to her role in a case involving the theft of $148,000 from a downtown Reno casino.

Lanie Stovall, 45, entered the plea in U.S. District Court to a felony count of interstate transportation of stolen money. Stovall, who remains in custody, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she's sentenced April 15.

Her former roommate, Muriel Rucker, earlier was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for stealing the $148,000 from the Cal-Neva Resort in August 2001. She was convicted of embezzlement. Authorities said Rucker, who worked as a security guard at the casino, wheeled the cash out of the Cal-Neva into an alley, where Stovall was waiting in a car.

The two women then traveled to California with the stolen money. About six months later, Rucker was arrested in Mexico and Stovall was arrested in Reno. The women were accused of buying and later selling a beach house in Mexico. They also purchased cars and a travel trailer, authorities said.

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