National

$2 bet on slot machine leads gambler to ‘huge win’ in CA. ‘Birthday to remember’

With a $2 bet, the man scored a big prize, Pechanga Resort Casino said.
With a $2 bet, the man scored a big prize, Pechanga Resort Casino said. Photo from Pechanga Resort Casino

A lucky gambler took home a “huge win” after playing a slot machine at a Southern California casino.

The gambler was playing a slot machine at Pechanga Resort Casino’s new North Bar on May 2, the Temecula casino said in a May 7 Facebook post.

The casino bar features “a tabletop multi-game slot machine” at each of its 25 seats, according to the casino’s website.

With a $2 bet, the player scored a $20,000 prize, the casino said.

“Now that’s a birthday to remember,” the casino wrote.

Others on Facebook echoed the excitement, calling the win a “great birthday gift” and “nice hit.”

That’s amazing,” one Facebook user commented. “I have been playing there for 3 decades now…not once did I ever hit $20k”

Another lucky gambler also recently took home a big win with a low bet at the casino.

A visitor played a $2.64 bet on a slot machine and won a $12,044.69 jackpot on April 23, the casino said in a post on X, McClatchy News previously reported.

Pechanga Resort Casino, about a 90-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles, “is one of the largest casino resorts” in the country, according to the resort’s website. The casino features more than 200,000 square feet of gaming space, which includes slots machines, video poker machines and table games.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM with the headline "$2 bet on slot machine leads gambler to ‘huge win’ in CA. ‘Birthday to remember’."

Daniella Segura
McClatchy DC
Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she’s worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.
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