Gambler bets 50 cents on slot machine — then hits jackpot at California casino

A gambler bet some change on a slot machine in Central California and won a big prize.

The visitor sat at slot machine at the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, the casino said in an April 2 Facebook post.

The player bet 50 cents, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen.

Then a jackpot message appeared saying the gambler had won $20,000.15.

“A lucky guest turned a 50¢ bet into a $20,000 #jackpot! Who’s feeling lucky?” the casino said in the post.

Coarsegold is about a 40-mile drive north from Fresno.

Another gambler recently won a big prize in Florida.

This player bet $10 on a Buffalo Link slot machine and won $122,200.18, McClatchy News reported.

This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Gambler bets 50 cents on slot machine — then hits jackpot at California 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.