Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
Vegas gamblers face hour-long waits at Mirage casino slots as $1.6M giveaway draws masses before closure
By David Propper,
5 days ago
The Las Vegas casino that needs to pay out $1.6 million in prizes before it closes next week drew long lines Wednesday as thousands mobbed the iconic Strip fixture in hopes of winning big.
Just about every open slot machine was occupied during the second day of the six-day progressive cash giveaway at the Mirage, which is shutting its doors on July 17 after more than three decades in business.
With the casino turning off half the slot machines, demand is through the roof, but so is impatience among guests, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
A view of people playing slots at The Mirage, which is shutting its doors on July 17 after more than 30 decades in business. X / @BillKrackman
Texas resident Krissy Carter came to the Mirage with her sights on some green and ended up seeing red.
“But it’s been such a frustrating experience,” she told the newspaper while waiting at least two hours for a slot to become available.
She even tried to get security to boot a woman who was sitting at a slot machine, but not playing. The woman in response began scrolling through to appear she was about to play, according to the newspaper.
“Everyone has a right to play,” she bemoaned. “But it’s frustrating when people only have like $1 in a machine and they’re not really playing.”
Pro sports better Bill Krackomberger posted a video of the packed casino Wednesday that he called “absolute mayhem.”
The Mirage is giving away 200k a day in hot seat drawings 3-7pm. It’s all the progressive money that has to be given away. I arrived at 1:30pm to check it out. It was basically New Years Eve x 5 foot traffic. No seats anywhere. I know so many high level players that were called… pic.twitter.com/Zqskv7JxlI
“Every single slot machine whether it’s $100-a-spin, $500-a-spin or 5-cents-a-spin — every single slot machine is taken in the whole place,” he said in the clip showing crowds of hopeful winners.
The casino must hand out huge cash prizes in unclaimed progressive jackpots from both slot machines and table games before closing, according to Nevada state law.
The Mirage was scheduled to hand out guaranteed winnings of $200,000 between Tuesday and Thursday this week with the ante raised to $250,000 on Friday and Saturday. The prize money will then drop to $100,000 next Tuesday.
Vegas gamblers face hour-long waits for both slot machines and table games. X / @MelissaEnchant The casino must pay $1.6 million in prizes before it closes next week. Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The drawings are taking place every 30 minutes from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Table games player Nate Rose switched gears Wednesday to try out slots even though he usually doesn’t bother with them because the odds are not in the players’ favor.
“I came to win,” Rose told the Las Vegas Review-Journal as he held a money bag. “If you’re trying to win money, you can’t have a negative attitude. You have to expect to win. I certainly expect to walk out with some stacks.”
For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Local Las Vegas, NV
Most Popular
Comments / 0