Gambler Wins $1M Jackpot in Black Hawk, Colorado — the Casino's Largest Prize Ever

“Jackpots like these are extremely rare, and to see one happen, our gaming floor was quite the spectacle."

January 31, 2025

Image: monarch casino in black hawk, colorado

It could be the biggest jackpot ever won in a Colorado casino. Anthony Camera

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Dreams really do come true.

A lucky gambler won big last week at the Monarch Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk, hitting the million-dollar jackpot on Thursday, January 23, according to the casino.

The anonymous player won $1,085,435.89 on a $50 bet on a slot machine — the largest jackpot ever won at the Monarch Casino, marking the first time someone has taken home seven figures since the casino opened in 2013.

“Jackpots like these are extremely rare, and to see one happen, our gaming floor was quite the spectacle,” said Erica Ferris, Monarch’s director of marketing, in a release on January 30. “We are thrilled to celebrate monumental wins like this with our guests."
It could be the biggest jackpot ever won in a Colorado casino. Previously, the largest win reported to media outlets was $805,329 at the Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek, according to the online gambling directory AffPapa. A Colorado Springs woman landed that jackpot in 2017.

Colorado's other big wins include $568,319 in 2021 and $501,591 in 2017, both at the Wildwood Casino.

The new top-winner earned their prize on the Dragon Link Golden Century slot machine in the High Limit Room on the third floor, according to the Monarch Casino. They hit the machine's “progressive jackpot,” which increases with each wager that does not win the grand prize.

The winner decided to remain anonymous. The casino did not reveal whether they are a Colorado resident, but the casino said the winner used a Monarch Rewards Card, suggesting that they are a regular at the casino.

"They accomplished the unthinkable," the Monarch wrote on social media. "If you’re seeking a sign, here it is!"

Hannah Metzger is a staff writer at Westword, reporting on news, arts and culture since joining the staff in October 2023. She previously worked at publications including Colorado Politics and the Denver Gazette, where she covered the Colorado Legislature, the Denver and Aurora city councils and breaking news. Hannah has been honored with numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Colorado Press Association, Colorado Student Media Association and Denver Press Club. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a major in journalism and a minor in political science.

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