Lion’s Share $2.4m jackpot triggered after 20 years
The notorious Lion’s Share slot at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas finally unleashed its $2.4 million jackpot after 20 years this week.
Lion’s Share was first installed at the famous casino on the Las Vegas Strip in the early 1990s and has gained a controversial reputation for not paying out its progressive jackpot once since its inception. That all changed earlier this week when one lucky player finally pulled off what was beginning to seem like the impossible.
Walter Misco, from New Hampshire, was persuaded by his wife of 48 years, Linda, to have a play on the slot on the night before they were due to leave Las Vegas to go home. The pair have been coming to Las Vegas every few months for the past 20 years and were fully aware of the slot’s growing reputation for not paying out.
However, in a twist of fate, it only took playing the slot for 5 minutes at the maximum bet value of $3 per spin before the progressive jackpot was triggered and Walter made history by becoming an instant multi-millionaire by triggering the $2.4 million 20 year old jackpot prize.
Walter said “Every time I walked by, there were five or six people lined up. But at 11 o’clock was my window of opportunity. There was nobody there, so I sat down. I put $100 in the machine and had $127 in credits when it hit. I’d probably been playing for five minutes.”
President and COO of MGM Grand Casino Scott Sabella stated “MGM Grand is delighted to award this historic jackpot to the lucky winner of the “Lion’s Share,” and we couldn’t be happier for the winners and their family and friends.”
Sabella added “This monumental event is another great example of why MGM Grand is the Entertainment Authority, and our goal of providing every guest with the ultimate Las Vegas experience.”
Lion’s Share has gained a cult following ever since its notoriety for not paying out in 20 years of existence was highlighted by Wall Street Journal writer Ron Copeland in an article earlier this year. Ever since, scores of players have lined up to play the slot in an attempt to trigger its multi-million dollar jackpot.
The slot is the only remaining title left from custom-made MGM Grand-branded slots that were installed on the casino’s floor. Its future is now uncertain in the aftermath of the jackpot win but it has firmly secured its place in casino folklore.