North Louisiana Woman Hits $4.3 million Wheel of Fortune Slot Jackpot at Horseshoe Casino

BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana -- When Staci Raborn and her husband lost their young son to cancer in October, their world was turned upside down. After hitting a $4,348,921 jackpot on a $1 Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune Slots  machine late Wednesday evening at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, the 33-year-old elementary school teacher from West Monroe, La. said she plans to use the winnings to establish a foundation to help other families whose children have the disease.

"Ever since we lost our precious four-year-old boy, I've been wondering how I could honor his memory and help other people with young children who are fighting cancer," Raborn said. "Now I have the money to do it."

While waiting on her husband to decide what machine to play at the popular Bossier City gaming resort -- her favorite -- Raborn picked the Wheel of Fortune® slot machine on her own, and after wagering less than $80, she hit the huge MegaJackpot®, the casino's third statewide progressive grand prize of the year.

"I'm just in total shock," Raburn acknowledged after IGT technicians and Louisiana State police verified the win early this morning.

Raburn says she expects to quit working as a school teacher and plans to focus exclusively on establishing and administering her foundation.

This is the tenth MegaJackpot® awarded in Louisiana this year, bringing the state's total prize payouts to nearly $17 million in 2006.

The Wheel of Fortune® progressive slot machine is based on the popular television game show, "Wheel of Fortune®." The primary jackpot is paid when a player plays the maximum bet ($3 on the dollar game) and lines up all three winning symbols on the appropriate pay line.