Gambler hits huge jackpot on 25-cent slot machine at Sacramento-area casino

A gambler at Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento hit a $212,595 jackpot on a progressive slot machine, casino officials reported.

The player won the progressive jackpot by betting $25 on the 25-cent-minimum “Buffalo Link” machine on Friday, Nov. 28, the casino said in a news release.

The player, an Elite Thunder Rewards member, was playing the machine in the high limit area of the Lincoln-area casino, which is about a 30-mile drive northeast from Sacramento.

“As our guests gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving weekend, we are grateful to celebrate this extraordinary moment with such a warm and incredibly nice guest,” general manager Dawn Clayton said in the release.

“Seeing someone like her experience a win of this size makes the holiday weekend even more special for all of us,” Clayton said. “It is a wonderful reminder that big wins can strike at any time, especially during a season centered around gratitude.”

Thunder Valley Casino Resort has 3,500 slot machines and 89 table games.

This story was originally published November 30, 2025 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Gambler hits huge jackpot on 25-cent slot machine at Sacramento-area casino."