Megabucks is a Nevada state-wide slot jackpot network that is owned and run by the slot machine company, International Game Technology (IGT). Considered Nevada's state lottery, Megabucks is extremely popular and has created quite a few millionaires in its 19-year history.
Thanks to a wonderful marketing strategy, Megabucks continues to ignite a firestorm every time the jackpot reaches ‘megabuck' status. It is also a slot machine that generates a ridiculous amount of gossip and urban legend circulating on the game and its winners.
To play Megabucks, pick six numbers from 1 through 48 on your Megabucks play slip, or mark the Quick Pick box and let the terminal randomly pick some or all of your numbers for you. Players win Megabucks prizes by matching three, four, five or six of the winning numbers, in any order, drawn in the official drawing for the date played. Megabucks Doubler is a lottery game offered by the Massachusetts State Lottery with a starting jackpot of $500,000 and drawn two times in a week. The players are to pick 6 out of the 49 numbers and if the picked numbers match all or some of those selected in the next drawing then the player wins a prize. Tri-State Megabucks® is a $2 game that starts the jackpot at $1 million and has a second-tier prize of $30,000. It offers the BEST overall odds of any of our games at 1 in 5.9! This game is available locally in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, which means all of the winners are local. A Southern California visitor has won a Megabucks jackpot valued at a little more than $11.8 million. The winner, identified only as Rodolfo T., hit the jackpot about 6:30 p.m. All Lottery retailers can pay you for Megabucks prizes up to and including $600. At the Lottery Office in Salem All Megabucks prizes over $600 are paid at the Lottery office in Salem. On-line game prizes over $600 may be collected at the Lottery office in Salem beginning the day after the drawing or those prizes may be claimed via mail.
However, if you look at the real truth behind IGT's Megabucks, even with all the myths and legends dispelled, it will become apparent that this progressive slot is a poor place to spend your money.
How Does Megabucks Work?
IGT's Megabucks is a dollar coin slot machine that requires 3 coins or $3.00 to hit the jackpot. The jackpot is reset to a predetermined amount after every mega win. While the present reset amount is $10-million, there is chatter that this will be increasing to $11-million.
Megabucks is part of the company's MegaJackpot slot system that connects about 750 machines in 136 Nevada casinos to one primary jackpot that builds from the base jackpot amount. International Game Technology owns the Megabucks machines and the casino gets a cut of the money that each machine wins from the players. It is common knowledge that IGT created Megabucks to compete with state lotteries.
Where Can You Play Megabucks?
Nevada is the true home of Megabucks and is found in nearly all of the casinos on the strip. Unlike multi-state lotteries, this game does not cross state lines. IGT runs Megabucks jackpots in the states of California, New Jersey and Mississippi, as well as some Indian reservations.
I've had the opportunity to throw a few dollars in the Megabucks ring on a trip to Mississippi. I noticed the jackpot was much lower than I have seen in Las Vegas and while I did feel like, by some magic formula, my odds were better because the stakes were lower I did not win.
However, these don't include as many venues as the Nevada edition and their jackpots are usually only a fraction of the original. Each state that offers Megabucks has a separate jackpot system with individual meters and winners. If a jackpot is won in one state, it does not affect the progressive jackpot in another.
Each Megabucks machine has its own random number and hence chooses its own outcomes. These outcomes are then reported to a central location. When the jackpot is hit on one machine, the central station sends out a message to the other machines, resetting their respective meters.
How About the Odds of Winning Megabucks?
Statistics about the true odds of winning the Megabucks jackpot remain sketchy at best.
It is certainly understandable why the betting for the Megabucks sometimes reaches chaotic proportions and has people crossing over the state line just to have a shot at winning so many millions.
But do winners really receive what the games advertise? Let's take the example of a $35-million win. Initially, for that amount of money, winners get a check of $1.4 million. They then have between sixty and ninety days to decide whether they want to take their money in annual installments over twenty-five years or a lump sum of 60% of the money.
For a $35-million win, that would result in $21-million before taxes. Obviously, most winners choose the former and take the lump sum payment.
Whichever option the winner chooses, he or she still needs to take into account the taxes payable to the IRS. They are subject to the maximum tax rate of nearly 40%, with state taxes also needing to be taken into account. When all is said and done, the prize money dwindles somewhat miserably after Uncle Sam takes a bite.
Of course, nobody has ever refused the money all together & taken $0. So, I suppose most people wouldn't scoff at $14 million or so.
Megabucks Curse
No slot machine in the history of the world has had close to as many urban legends, myths and stories surrounding the game of Megabucks.
Typically, these legends center around the unfortunate fate of Megabucks winners, which leads the masses to believe that winning the multi-million dollar jackpot will result in an ultimately unlucky death. Real casino on facebook. While pretty much all of these stories have proven to be fabricated, Megabucks still has the obstinate reputation of being cursed.
Many believe that the genesis of the rumors hanging over Megabucks is based on the truly tragic story of a 37 year-old cocktail waitress named Cynthia Jay-Brennan. In 2000, Jay-Brennan, was the lucky winner of a $34.9-million Megabucks jackpot, played in the Desert Inn Casino in Vegas.
Less than 2 months after her win, Jay-Brennan was surprisingly involved in a car crash. Her sister was killed instantly and poor Cynthia, herself, was left a quadriplegic. The driver of the car that hit the pair was under the influence of alcohol and was eventually tried and sentenced to 28 years; however, this did not stop rumors flying that Megabucks was a cursed game to win.
The fact is that Jay-Brennan's accident was not the first of these rumors, as they circulated well before the year 2000. However, since this event, stories continuously surface regarding the tragic fate of every winner of the latest Megajackpot win.
When another young man hit the jackpot in 2003, rumors spread like a virus of his untimely ‘death' through various ends, including a fatal drug overdose in a casino hotel and in a gang fight as far away as Los Angeles. All these stories have, thus far, proven to be false and while the winner chose to remain anonymous, IGT has assured the public time and time again that the lucky young man is alive and well, and enjoying his new found wealth.
To date, none of these stories have come up as anything other than tall tales.
A rumor, which has not yet been dispelled, is one regarding the change in the Megabucks programming system. Some claim that IGT changed the programming of the system to make the jackpot hit less frequently but for more money. While IGT claims that they did not do anything of the sort, there are many experts in the gambling field who feel that some sort of change was made in the past.
Finally, a minor rumor that can be dispelled is one that says that the central station to which each jackpot machine reports chooses the winner. IGT assures its gambling public that each machine has its own RNG and thus every machine chooses its own outcome.
Conclusion
So, while you now understand that most stories flying around the industry regarding the curse of Megabucks are false, I cannot ignore the fact that this is simply a bad slot game to play for 2 reasons.
First is the house 'hold'. Megabucks holds between 10% – 15% of every dollar played. Many slot machines in Nevada hold as little as 2% or 3%. The second reason that makes Megabucks a terrible play for the serious gambler is that you only receive 60% of your jackpot. There are many other progressive slots in your casino that pay big jackpots, but give you the whole thing.
When we strip Megabucks from all the pomp and glam that surrounds it, we find a middle of the road progressive slot game that doesn't give you much for your money. And even if you do get incredibly lucky and win, you don't exactly get the flashy numbers promised to you. Instead you will have to settle for a sum that is much more modest in nature, paid off to you over a period of 25 years. Final conclusion? Megabucks is not a mega hit. In fact, there are lots more fish in the proverbial gambling sea.
If you've ever stepped foot in a Las Vegas casino, you've undoubtedly encountered Megabucks slot machines. Megabucks is a city-wide network of progressive slot machines known for their massive jackpots.
The slots are $1-per-credit games, with three credits required in order to have a chance at winning the main pot. They most commonly use Wheel of Fortune themed slots.
Megabucks is to Vegas residents what the lottery is to most other cities. As the jackpot grows larger and larger, it becomes the talk of the town, with everyone talking about what number it's at now, what property they think it will hit at, if they're going to go play, and, of course, what they'd do with all the money if they won.
I've heard those conversations more times than I could ever hope to count. If it weren't for the trail of horror and dead bodies apparently following the winners, I might think having to hear broke people talk about how they'd waste millions of dollars is the actual curse, but I digress.
Local myths claim that winning the fortune is often the last thing the recipient ever does. It's alleged that people have overdosed on drugs, died in plane crashes, been sued for all their winnings, and been involved in horrible debilitating accidents. But despite all of the tragedy, the game remains as popular as ever; it's just too much money to pass up.
What is Megabucks?
Megabucks is the first wide-area progressive jackpot ever created. Slot machines in casinos all across the Las Vegas valley are linked, with a percentage of each bet contributing to the ever-increasing size of the jackpot. The devices can be played for one-dollar, but a three-dollar max bet is required for a chance to win the big prize.
The pot starts at ten million dollars and steadily climbs until there is a winner. The 'lucky' recipient then has the choice to take half of the earnings immediately in one balloon payment or to be paid out monthly over the course of the next twenty-five years. The highest amount ever won was $39.7 million, but the winner of that record-breaking prize is a central figure in the curse's mythology.
Las Vegas Lore
In a town like Las Vegas, there are no shortages of wise tails, myths, and legends. Go to any downtown bar during the daytime and talk to the local patrons and you're bound to hear several of them, for better or for worse.
It makes sense, this town is built on concepts like luck and magic. It also has a violent past as a mafia stronghold and has been ground zero for sin and debauchery for decades. I'm always hearing about haunted hotel rooms, people with supernatural abilities to 'cool' winning gamblers, and curses.
The Myth:The legend around the Megabucks winners is just another part of the city's endless fascination with rags to riches, and riches to rags stories. It's one of those topics that I've heard spoken about frequently, each time with some new horrifying fate befalling yet another victim.
I've somehow managed never to see any of these unfortunate deaths in the newspapers, but that's how these curses tend to go, and since the winners have the option to remain anonymous, there's always a veil of secrecy that works to preserve the tall tales.
It's unknown when the curse began or why it persists to this day, but there are two primary events that seem to be the centerpieces of the story. One is a verifiable event that definitely did happen, while the other is clouded in mystery.
Cynthia Jay-Brennan
In 2000, Cynthia Jay-Brennan was playing Megabucks at the Desert Inn Casino.
The 37-year-old cocktail waitress had her life changed in an instant when she hit the jackpot of a lifetime, good for $34.9 million. Unfortunately, the celebrations would be short-lived.
Clark Morse, a 58-year-old drunken idiot, was the man who caused the tragic accident. He had already been arrested on sixteen occasions for driving under the influence, was convicted at least five times, but somehow always avoided any real jail time.
After visiting two bars, Morse slammed into Cynthia's car, killing her sister, injuring passengers in at least five other vehicles, and leaving Cynthia Jay-Brennan a quadriplegic. He then fled the scene of the crime and went to his mother's house where he was found sleeping by police.
The drunken perpetrator of all this suffering was finally sentenced to a lengthy prison term as a result of the accident. Cynthia is still hopeful that she'll defy the odds once again and regain the ability to walk someday, but would gladly give all the money back in return for her sister and mobility. In the meantime, her tragic story seems to be the primary catalyst for the legendary curse.
What Is Megabucks Up To In Vegas
$39.7-Million Winner
In 2003, the Megabucks jackpot hit record heights once again, this time growing to nearly forty million bucks. It was won by a twenty-five-year-old man playing at the Excalibur, who wisely chose to keep his identity anonymous after his big win.
That's where the details of this particular piece of Vegas lore get hazy, as I've heard the second part of this story told in about fifty different ways.
How he died, depends on who is telling the story. The most common version I've heard is that he died of a drug overdose while celebrating his good fortune.
I've always thought this would be the most likely scenario. A twenty-five-year-old kid who suddenly comes into almost 40 million dollars while on vacation in Las Vegas is pretty much the most probable overdose candidate imaginable, after all.
It's also been said that the anonymous man either died in a plane crash or was killed by gang members in Los Angeles. International Gaming Technologies, the company that produces the Megabucks machines, has denied this story and insists that the lucky winner is still alive. Regardless, the tale persists and is often one of the main stories relayed regarding the curse.
Realistically, it's probably in the recipient's best interest that nobody knows his identity and everybody thinks he's dead since it probably has limited the number of scammers, beggars, and thieves that would otherwise have been harassing him for the last fifteen years.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Beyond Cynthia Jay-Brennan's nightmarish tale, it's difficult to find any other instances of the curse claiming a victim that hasn't already been disproven. But, when it comes to urban legends, the truth very rarely carries much importance. However, there is a greater curse at work, and time and time again it has destroyed the lives of people we all envy.
If you expand your search from Megabucks to all lottery winners, you will find that nothing ruins a life faster than suddenly becoming wealthy. Winners are more likely to declare bankruptcy in the three to five years following their good fortune than the average citizen. That is, if they survive the next three to five years.
Jeff Dampier won $20 million from the Illinois lottery. Like all lotto winners experience, he was immediately hounded by family members and close friends for money. The generous Dampier tried his best to share the wealth, but it wasn't enough to satiate their greed.
What Is Megabucks Up Tomorrow
Urooj Khan only got to celebrate his $1-millon win in the Chicago lottery for a single day before dropping dead of cyanide poison, once again, suspected to have been administered by close family.
There are many more stories like those mentioned above.
Interesting Fact:In fact, most of the people who win windfalls of money from things like the lottery or Megabucks later regret ever having won. The sudden influx of cash is so shocking to people's lives. The family grows envious and entitled to your wealth, friends turn on you, people begin suing you constantly, and sometimes you end up the target of murder plots.
When it comes to Megabucks, the ability to remain anonymous after winning has resulted in much speculation about the fate of the winners. While it's difficult to find concrete facts about the various recipients to verify the curse, it stands to reason that they're no better off than the average lottery winner.
It's just that while people are searching for some mystical bad luck brought on by a cursed game, the truth is the influx of easily-obtained money brings out the worst in the person receiving it and everyone around them. To be unable to trust your friends and family may be the biggest curse of all.
In Conclusion
Online casino bewertung 2020. Having lived in Las Vegas since 1994, I've heard more Megabucks curse stories than I could possibly count or ever hope to remember. Each rendition is wilder, more improbable, and more salacious than the last; it's as if locals draw a source of pride from the tragic tales. I've got to think there's something about the horrific downfall that makes us feel better about never having the luck required to win the fortune ourselves.
While many of the stories repeated around the valley may be heavily embellished, if there's any truth to them at all, that doesn't mean that the people who win these large sums of cash are safe. In fact, research shows that the curse goes far beyond a single wide area progressive slot.
What Is Megabucks Up Top
As it turns out, anyone that wins massive amounts of money in an instant soon sees their dreams turn into a nightmare. Suddenly a target is on your back and the people you loved the most see you as nothing more than their ticket to a better life.
Due to the anonymity provided to Megabucks winners if they choose it, we don't have all the heartbreaking tales of the jackpot winners. We know of Cynthia Jay-Brennan and her unfortunate story, but not the dozens of others who most likely suffered similar fates to so many lotto winners.
If you ever come to Las Vegas and get to talking with the right bartender about the Megabucks curse, you're guaranteed to here a tremendous story of a person's highest high before their lowest low. Just remember, if you're ever unlucky enough to win the jackpot yourself, don't tell anybody, not even your family.
