IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slot machine has created many millionaires over the years. And Linda H. Thornwood has become the latest, winning nearly $1 million through a Wheel of Fortune jackpot at New York’s Empire Casino.
She and her husband, Eddie, stopped at Empire City Casino on a whim because Eddie felt like gambling.
As ABC affiliate WABC New York reports, Linda began playing one of the 110 Wheel of Fortune slot machines at the casino. Not long afterward, she hit a life-changing slots jackpot.
“I heard all the people around me cheering as well, so it was just like a blur,” said Linda. “It was such a shock.”
Linda Thornwood’s jackpot is the second-biggest win in Empire City’s short history. The biggest is a $1.5 million payout, also through Wheel of Fortune.
One twist to the story is that Eddie Thornwood thought that his wife had been robbed after seeing her surrounded by Empire City security.
“She was shaking and she had security around her and I said, ‘What happened, were you robbed?’ and she says, ‘No, I won $1 million,’ and I said, ‘What?'” Eddie explained. “She says, ‘I won $1 million,’ and I said, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it.'”
Now that Linda is nearly a millionaire, she plans on using the money to help her adult children pay off debts and expenses.
Set to retire in three years, Linda has no plans to quit her job, despite the win.
There was no mention in the ABC piece about what her job is or how much she’ll continue to play slots in the future.
In any case, it’s pretty amazing that Linda won big on an impromptu casino trip. And fortunately for Eddie, his wife had not been robbed, but rather made a lot of money.