A $3 spin on a penny slot at Jamul Casino Resort has turned into a six-figure payday, the resort said, paying out $281,144 and proving that the cheapest machines on the floor can still deliver life-changing money. The hilltop property east of downtown San Diego has been riding a hot streak of big jackpots in recent weeks.
As reported by FOX 5 San Diego, the casino announced that a man hit a $281,144 jackpot after placing a $3 bet on the Frankenstein slot. The winning spin came on a one-cent denomination machine. The resort did not release the winner’s full name.
About Jamul Casino Resort
According to Jamul Casino Resort, the property opened in 2016 and features nearly 1,700 slot machines, dozens of table games and several dining and entertainment venues. The resort completed a hotel tower last year and markets itself as the closest full-service casino to downtown San Diego.
Another recent six-figure hit
In late March, an unnamed player won $630,069 on the Kong Skull Island slot at Jamul, according to GamblingNews. That payout, paired with the recent Frankenstein jackpot, highlights how linked progressive jackpots and bonus features can push totals into six figures from relatively modest bets.
How a penny spin can pay out
Frankenstein, developed by Light & Wonder, is built around multiple progressive jackpots and bonus features that can boost on-screen values as people play. As outlined by Casinos.com, the game displays six progressive jackpots and allows one-cent denominations that, at certain bet levels (about $3 on a one-cent machine), qualify for higher progressive prizes. That structure helps explain how a small wager can trigger a large payout.
Tax and paperwork winners should know
Winners also have to contend with the tax man. The IRS's Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 state that casinos must file a W-2G when slot payouts meet federal reporting thresholds, and the minimum reporting amount for slot machines rose to $2,000 for calendar year 2026. Even if a payout falls below that threshold for automatic reporting, gambling winnings are taxable and should be declared on federal returns.
The resort confirmed the $281,144 Frankenstein payout but did not release additional details about the winner. For players, the takeaway is straightforward: penny slots can still pay big, but anyone lucky enough to hit it large needs to be ready for the tax forms and paperwork that come with the windfall.
