An Aiea woman is more than $3.6 million richer today after spending less than $20 last night on a 25-cent "Wheel of Fortune" slot machine at the California Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Aiea woman spends $20,
wins $3.6 million in VegasBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comHideko Sakamoto was the second big Hawaii multimillion-dollar winner at the hotel in 28 days, said Boyd Gaming spokesman Dave Brendmoen.
She had just checked into the hotel with her husband, Richard.
"What's incredible," Brendmoen said, "is these people didn't even take time to unpack. They got their bags to the room and came back."
She put a $20 bill in a "Wheel of Fortune" machine while her husband went to play craps. Before spending the whole $20, she won the $3,677,071.12 progressive MegaJackpot, Brendmoen said.
"They went to get her husband from the craps table and he said, 'No, I'm winning. I don't want to leave.'"
After learning how much his wife won, he said he was in shock.
Sakamoto said she will share her big win with her five children and 10 grandchildren. "It will probably go to several colleges as tuition."
On Dec. 12, also at the California Hotel, David Tokunaga of Makiki hit a $2.5 million jackpot playing a $1 "Wheel of Fortune" slot machine.