California

Lucky player lands ‘massive’ jackpot on slot machine, California casino says

A lucky player won $242,000 on a “Buffalo Link” slot machine at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
A lucky player won $242,000 on a “Buffalo Link” slot machine at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.

A gambler at a Sacramento-area casino recently hit a “massive” jackpot.

The player scored a $242,419 jackpot on a progressive slot machine at Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento on Friday, Feb. 6, casino officials reported.

The player won the jackpot on a Buffalo Link slot machine, the casino said in a news release.

Gamblers won more than 250,000 jackpots on slot machines and electronic games at the casino in 2025, averaging 700 jackpots a day, the casino said.

“When you see six-figure jackpots hitting this regularly, it is not luck. It is momentum,” said Dawn Clayton, general manager of Thunder Valley Casino Resort. “The excitement is real, and it is happening all the time.”

What is Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento?

Thunder Valley Casino Resort, 1200 Athens Ave. in Lincoln, has 3,500 slot machines and 89 table games.

It is about a 35-mile drive northeast from Sacramento.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 7:52 AM with the headline "Lucky player lands ‘massive’ jackpot on slot machine, California casino says."

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DS
Don Sweeney
The Sacramento Bee
916-321-1028
Don Sweeney has been a newspaper reporter and editor in California for more than 35 years. He is a service reporter based at The Sacramento Bee.
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