An out-of-state visitor walked into Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln on Wednesday, July 15, sat down at Face-Up Pai Gow Poker, and walked away $1.13 million richer. The huge hit stunned players on the floor and, according to the casino, marked the property's first-ever million-dollar payout on table games. When staff asked what he planned to do with the money, the winner, who was there with his wife, reportedly quipped, "I'm going to buy a new garage door."
As reported by The Sacramento Bee, Thunder Valley said in a news release that the visitor scored a $1,131,400 jackpot on Wednesday, July 15. The casino noted that the player was visiting from out of state and was accompanied by his wife.
United Auburn Indian Community Chairman John L. Williams described the couple as "humble" and said, "We're thrilled to celebrate our first $1 million table games winner." Dawn Clayton, the resort's general manager, added that "everyone was cheering for them." Both comments were included in the casino's release and reported by The Sacramento Bee.
Where It Happened
Thunder Valley Casino Resort sits at 1200 Athens Ave. in Lincoln, about 35 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to the resort's official site. It operates on a large scale: Bizwomen notes the property spans roughly 270,000 square feet and runs about 3,500 slot machines and 89 table games.
Part Of A Big Run Of Payouts
The seven-figure score is the headline on what has been a very hot streak at the resort. Industry coverage and casino statements put Thunder Valley's total at more than 251,000 jackpots over the past year, which works out to nearly 700 a day. The resort also reported a six-figure slot payout two days earlier, along with several other sizable table-game wins this month, according to coverage of the series of payouts from Gambling News.
Support And Resources
Big wins make headlines, but gambling harms are very real for a minority of players. The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline - call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-7378) - and maintains state-by-state resources online. Visit the National Council on Problem Gambling for helpline information and local support options.
