Question of the Day - 10 May 2024

Over the years, a number of sources, including our own, have determined that the odds of hitting Megabucks are 1 in 50 million. That's compared to 1 in 300 million or so to hit a Powerball or Mega Millions multi-state lottery jackpot. 

Still, a 50 million-to-1 shot is no easy feat. But believe it or not, the jackpot has been hit twice by the same person. In 1989, Las Vegas local Elmer Sherwin hit for $4.6 million at the Mirage. Then on Sept 15, 2005, he made history by hitting his second Megabucks jackpot, for $21.1 million, at the Cannery in North Las Vegas. That's one lucky guy. 

The original version of Megabucks was launched by International Game Technology (IGT) in Nevada in March 1986. It was the world's first wide-area linked-progressive slot-machine system.

Megabucks debuted with a base jackpot of $1 million. It was subsequently raised to $7 million; it was raised again to $10 million in September 2005, which is where it remains nearly 20 years later.