Passenger Hits $1.5 Million Jackpot at Las Vegas Airport

The jackpot came on a $7 spin. The winner chose to remain anonymous, and had to be grateful that this was not a trick, but a great treat to get on Halloween.

While most people don’t come to Vegas to gamble at the airport, the slot machines at Harry Reid International Airport often tempt travelers into trying their luck one last time before boarding — and occasionally, it pays off.

Big Jackpots at Harry Reid International Aren’t Common

Although big payouts are rare, they do happen at Harry Reid from time to time.

Monika Bertaki, a spokesperson from Harry Reid International, explained to NBC 7 News in August that the Las Vegas airport is one of only two in the U.S. that has slot machines. The other is Reno-Tahoe International, but Chicago may be getting them soon.

She mentioned that the airport earned nearly $59 million in gaming revenue last year, and kept almost $50 million of it after paying the gaming operator’s share.

The conversation started after a man from San Diego won almost $1.5 million playing a slot machine at Harry Reid International. The man asked not to be identified, but told an airport spokesperson that he also hit the jackpot while playing a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. His machine (at the time) was near Gate E-10 in Terminal 3.

The ecstatic winner posed for a photo with the slot machine, which showed his $1,450,954 prize.

Other Big Jackpot Winners at Harry Reid International Airport

That big airport payout happened roughly 17 months after someone won more than $1.3 million while waiting for their plane. Harry Reid International Airport confirmed the massive haul on its X account, saying, “one lucky player cashed in BIG at LAS.”

The big win came at a Wheel of Fortune Triple Double Emeralds machine in Terminal 1.

And back in January, three people hit jackpots worth over $1 million at the airport in the same week.

Las Vegas Airport One of The Busiest in the World

You get an idea of just how rare these jackpot winners are when you look at the amount of people traveling through the airport each year.

Harry Reid International Airport consistently ranks among the busiest airports in the U.S.

In 2023, it ranked as the eighth-busiest airport in the U.S. The airport handled nearly 58 million passengers and was the fifth busiest in the world for takeoffs and landings.

In the first half of 2024, the airport saw an increase in passenger numbers, welcoming 28.9 million travelers, 2.6% more than the same period in 2023. October 2023 was the busiest month ever recorded for the airport, with 5.47 million passengers.