Always listen to your wife. That’s the moral of this gambling story, which is centered on a legendary Las Vegas slot machine that finally paid off this weekend.
Walter and Linda Misco, a New Hampshire couple, were in Vegas for a three-day vacation that included a slot tournament. They stayed at the MGM Grand, home to the legendary Lion’s Share. The Lion’s Share 20-year old three-reel slot machine that hadn’t relinquished a jackpot in 15 years. In that time, the progressive jackpot grew to $2.4 million and attracted a cult-like following.
Gamblers came from all over to take a crack at the $3-max slot machine. There were often lines of people, waiting to play. The Lion’s Share even has its own Facebook page.
Walter, 66, had read a recent newspaper story about the Lion’s Share and mentioned it Linda. When they arrived at the Grand, Linda instructed her husband to play the machine.
“Of course, I was following orders,” said Walter during a Saturday phone interview.
Around 11 p.m., Friday, Linda had retired to the room. Walter told her he’d be up shortly. But, first, he strolled past the Lion’s Share. He had checked it out several times during his stay. There was always a wait to play. But this time it was vacant. Everyone had disappeared.
Walter inserted a $100 bill and began hitting the spin button, playing the $3 max. He gave up on pulling the arm, “after they put buttons on the machines,” he said. In approximately 15-20 spins, something happened. Three green lions lined up on the middle pay line. Jackpot. No one was really around.
“I was actually a little confused, because I didn’t believe it,” Walter said. “I saw it happen, but didn’t believe it. Eventually someone from the MGM came over and assured me that I had won the 2.4 million dollars.”
Walter called Linda up in the room. He told her that she needed to come back downstairs, but didn’t tell her why. When Linda came down, Walter grabbed her by the hand and led her over to the Lion’s Share.
“There were a couple expletives,” said Walter with a chuckle. “I can tell you the first word out of her mouth was ‘holy,’ and you can figure out the rest of it. It was funny. And it was real. But she was very happy that I followed her instructions.”
Nevada casinos won $6.9 billion off of slots from June 2013 to June 2014, according to Nevada Gaming Control.