Jackpot! NJ Man Wins $7M Playing Slots At Harrah's

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- A man who was present when Harrah's Resort Atlantic City opened in 1980 won more than $7.3 million on Tuesday, 30 years to the day later.

A suburban Trenton man who would only allow himself to be publicly identified as "Tom'' was playing the Wheel of Fortune progressive $5 machine at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday when he won a jackpot of $7,355,381.

He plans to buy a 1967 Camaro with part of the money, and share some of the rest with family and friends, according to a casino spokesman. The man refused to speak with reporters.

The jackpot happened on the 30th anniversary of the casino, which opened on Nov. 23, 1980.

"We have some of the most loyal customers in the world and it is even more rewarding that this jackpot winner has been a patron to our casino and part of the Harrah's family for 30 years,'' said Jay Snowden, the casino's senior vice president and general manager.

The jackpot was the second-largest in the casino's history. In April 2006, an 84-year-old retired waitress and great-grandmother from Galloway Township won more than $10 million playing a progressive nickel slot machine at Harrah's.

A progressive slot machine is linked to hundreds of others in Atlantic City's 11 casinos. With progressive slot machines, a portion of each bet goes toward the citywide jackpots.

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