Million-dollar moments, high-octane slots & huge wins coast to coast
By Sean Chaffin
From new millionaires at Choctaw to a $3.1 million jackpot in California and an exciting racing-themed slot debut, this month’s “Spinning Reels” is full of fortunate streaks, thrilling improvements and behind-the-scenes insights into the world of slot gaming.
Choctaw On line casino named the first millionaire of the summer time on June 8 as a part of the 2025 version of “3 Months. 3 Millionaires” promotion. Fuong H. from Garland, TX, turned the first of three fortunate Choctaw Rewards Membership members to attain seven figures on the property in Durant, OK.
“I’m nonetheless excited,” she stated after the win. “I by no means thought I might win tonight. My identify was referred to as; I stood up from my desk and stated, ‘That’s my identify!’”
Only a week earlier, Fuong retired from the jewellery firm she’d been working at for 33 years. She plans to spend her cash on her three youngsters and 6 grandchildren, and do some investing as properly. The Choctaw can be taking the thrill of “3 Months. 3 Millionaires.” to the winner’s hometown and can make a $10,000 donation to an area nonprofit group within the Garland space. The property will work with the winner to make the donation on to the charity on the winner’s behalf. The second $1 million drawing passed off July 5.
“Making somebody a millionaire is life altering, and the truth that we’ve been ready to try this for our Choctaw Rewards Membership members three summers in a row is unimaginable,” Choctaw Senior Director Of Gaming and Hospitality Jeff Penz stated.
Together with the Durant promotion, the Choctaw On line casino in Pocola is giving freely $1 million this summer time, together with three $100,000 grand prize drawings. On Saturdays by means of August, the property is giving freely $10,000 each two hours from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Following the $10,000 drawings on July 26 and Aug. 30, drawings of $100,000 may also be held. To win, visitors should be current and earn entries by means of their Choctaw Rewards Membership card and the promotion additionally applies to desk video games on Sundays.
“We’re at all times in search of alternatives to raise the visitor and participant expertise at Choctaw On line casino & Resort – Pocola and giving our loyal Rewards Membership members three possibilities to win $100,000 this summer time felt like the right means to try this,” Choctaw Pocola Regional Advertising and marketing Director Britta Erickson stated.
Slot Techs Stay in Demand
Contemplating a profession change? Repairing slot machines could also be a pleasant possibility. The business has exploded over the past decade and regardless of the pattern towards AI (artificial intelligence), real-life slot machine restore technicians are wanted to verify these onearmed bandits are functioning correctly and in addition staying in compliance with gaming rules. No robotic or AI can essentially make that occur.
“A number of instances with artificial intelligence, it’s an on the spot reply, and there is perhaps some follow-up,” Barry Driskill, proprietor of Klar Slot Machine Repairs and a 25-year veteran of the business, lately advised KLAS. “So far as persevering with down that course of, that’s the place quite a lot of the time is spent, and it’s important to have quite a lot of persistence.”
Nevertheless, that job has change into extra difficult as slot builders make more and more complicated video games. Technicians normally should be certified and licensed, and a day of upkeep and restore can embody engaged on circuitry, gaming logic and a slot’s mechanical workings.
“It’s a really bodily job being within the restore business,” Driskill stated. “It’s important to do quite a lot of transferring elements, you want quite a lot of expertise considering outdoors the field, and also you want modern considering to do the repairs. The human connection is considering outdoors of the field. It’s the professionals and cons of what you are attempting to do with it, and perceive the way it works. A number of instances it’s simply dumb luck.”
Pennsylvania Senate Advances Invoice to Scale back On line casino Slot Minimums
Pennsylvania Sen. Daniel Laughlin’s (R) revised laws to decrease the required variety of slot machines at Class 1 and a pair of casinos has cleared the Senate and is now awaiting consideration within the Home. Senate Invoice 840 proposes decreasing the minimal from 1,500 to 1,000 machines and is one step away from reaching Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.
Laughlin, who represents Erie County, stated the measure is a response to rising competitors from neighboring states and on-line gaming platforms. “Amenities like Presque Isle Downs & On line casino in Erie are dealing with rising competitors. Decreasing the slot machine requirement offers these companies the flexibility to adapt whereas preserving jobs and tax income,” he stated.
Presque Isle Downs, positioned in Laughlin’s district, was fined $50,000 earlier this 12 months for working under the 1,500-machine threshold. Its basic supervisor has voiced issues about long-term viability amid rising competitors from untaxed ability video games throughout the state.
The laws contains provisions to restrict how a lot a facility can cut back its machines, permitting the Pennsylvania Gaming Management Board to disclaim requests that would cut back a facility’s complete machine rely by greater than 2 %. SB 840 maintains a tough floor of 1,000 machines for Class 1 and a pair of casinos and 250 for Class 3 properties.
Laughlin referred to as the invoice a “commonsense reform” designed to assist the state’s gaming business by means of higher flexibility and modernization.
SLOT REELS TO CHECKERED FLAG
Gamers on the brand new Operating Wealthy Grand Prix slot machine might wish to buckle up. The brand new recreation from Competitors Interactive blends online game racing with the slot expertise. Suppose Mario Kart meets Huff N’ Puff. The sport offers gamers a whole immersive expertise mixing in some behind-the-wheel racing motion with extra conventional video slot play. The video games lately debuted at Santa Fe Station and Palace Station in Las Vegas.
Operating Wealthy Grand Prix permits gamers to hit the gasoline in racing bonus rounds and velocity demons can decide up power-ups like they may find in conventional video video games. The sport blends the transfer towards skill-based gaming and conventional spinning reels. Followers of cell gaming is perhaps desirous about this kind of slot gaming possibility as properly.
“We’re proud to deliver Operating Wealthy GRAND PRIX to the Station Casinos household,” Competitors Interactive Founder and Chief Artistic Officer Keith Winters lately advised KKLZ. “This rollout marks a significant step in our mission to redefine the on line casino expertise with interactive gameplay that resonates with a brand new era of gamers.”
Sean Chaffin is a contract author and senior author for On line casino Participant and Strictly Slots magazines. Comply with him on Twitter @PokerTraditions or electronic mail him at seanchaffin@sbcglobal.web for story assignments.
