A guest at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln turned a modest dime-denomination spin into a six-figure payday this week, hitting a $100,677 progressive jackpot on a Dragon Link: Panda Magic slot machine. Casino officials said the win landed Wednesday on a 10-cent cabinet with the player wagering a $5 bet.
Speaking to The Sacramento Bee, Thunder Valley general manager Dawn Clayton called the hit "unforgettable," adding, "Every jackpot creates excitement on our casino floor and it is always fun to see a guest experience that kind of unforgettable moment." The prize amount was confirmed by the resort after the Wednesday win, according to the paper.
The resort showcases its hot streaks online. Recent winners and live progressive meters appear on the casino's site, a rolling catalog that shows off dozens of big payouts and meters that climb into six- and seven-figure territory as wagers stack up. You can see the latest tallies and photographs on Thunder Valley.
How a dime machine can pay six figures
Dragon Link, the Aristocrat-built series that includes Panda Magic, uses a Hold & Spin bonus feature and a four-tier progressive setup labeled Mini, Minor, Major and Grand. According to Aristocrat, the game’s fireball-style respin mechanic locks bonus symbols in place and resets respins. Industry guides note that the jackpot tiers are linked across machines and bet levels, allowing multi-credit wagers on low-denomination cabinets to qualify for the top prizes; see a plain-English breakdown at Casinos.com.
Casino officials and local coverage also pointed to resources for people who may struggle with gambling. If you or someone close to you shows signs of problem gambling, you can call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling.
The $100,677 hit is the latest in a steady run of six-figure payouts at the Lincoln resort this year. The Sacramento Bee has tracked multiple recent six-figure jackpots and reported the resort said it paid out more than 251,000 jackpots in the past year.
