Teresita K. Nartatez, of Antioch, Illinois, had just $6.20 remaining in the Gold Stacks 88 Turtle Kingdom slot at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana Saturday when she took an 88-cent spin, the minimum bet on the machine. After a bonus feature lasting a few minutes, Nartatez won the machine's maximum payout — a jackpot totaling $126,495.63.
Teresita K. Nartatez, of Antioch, Illinois, took an 88-cent spin on the Gold Stacks 88 Turtle Kingdom slot machine Saturday at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana and won the grand jackpot of $126,495.63.
GARY — An Illinois woman turned 88 cents into more than $126,000 Saturday when she hit the grand jackpot on a slot machine at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Teresita K. Nartatez, of Antioch, Illinois, had just $6.20 remaining in the Gold Stacks 88 Turtle Kingdom slot when she took an 88-cent spin, the minimum bet on the machine.
After a bonus feature lasting a few minutes, Nartatez won the machine's maximum payout — a jackpot totaling $126,495.63.
This was Nartatez's first trip to the new Hard Rock Casino, which opened May 14 adjacent to Interstate 80/94 at the Burr Street exit.
Giovanni Taliaferro, the Director of Memorabilia Design for Hard Rock International, gave a guided tour of music memorabilia tied to the Jackson family on Wednesday.
Her big win comes the same week that a Chicago man played $2.50 in a progressive penny slot machine at the Hard Rock and won an astounding $293,791.80 on a single spin.
"We are always extremely pleased when a guest to our casino experiences a big win on either our new slots or on our table games," said Matt Schuffert, president of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
The Hard Rock has 1,448 slot machines available to players 24 hours a day. Records show the casino in August paid out more than $10 million to slot machine jackpot winners.
Under federal tax law, a jackpot, also known as a hand pay jackpot, is defined as a single win worth $1,200 or more.
Hard Rock Casino opening guitar smash
Hard Rock Casino opens
Hard Rock Casino International COO Jon Lucas speaks at the casino's grand opening ceremony in Gary.
Hard Rock Casino opens
A select group of guests, including Tito and Marlon Jackson, upper right, smash acoustic guitars over electric guitars at the grand opening ceremony at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
Giovanni Taliaferro, director of Memorabilia Design for Hard Rock International, presents Marlon, left, and Tito Jackson with plaques at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana's grand opening ceremony.
Hard Rock Casino opens
Hard Rock Casino COO Jon Lucas examines one of the smashed guitars following the casino's grand opening ceremony in Gary.
Hard Rock Casino opens
Indiana state Sen. Eddie Melton speaks at the grand opening ceremony of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
Marlo, left, and Tito Jackson speak Friday at the grand opening guitar smash at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
A select group of guests smashes acoustic guitars over electric guitars at the grand opening ceremony at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
An acoustic guitar is left impaled by an electric guitar following a guitar smashing grand opening ceremony at the Hard Rock Casino of Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
A select group of guests smash acoustic guitars over electric guitars at the grand opening ceremony at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
Sparks fly as a select group of guests, including Tito and Marlon Jackson, upper right, smash acoustic guitars over electric guitars at the grand opening ceremony at the Hard Rock Casino of Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
Indiana state Sen. Eddie Melton speaks Friday at the grand opening ceremony of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
A select group of guests smash acoustic guitars over electric guitars at the grand opening ceremony at the Hard Rock Casino of Northern Indiana.
Hard Rock Casino opens
Greg Gibson, one of the owners of the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, addresses the crowd Friday at the grand opening ceremony at the casino.
Dan Carden
Chief Political Reporter
Dan has reported on Indiana state government for The Times since 2009. He also covers casinos, campaigns and corruption.
