A Chicago man making his first visit to the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana played $2.50 in a progressive penny slot Sunday and won an astounding $293,791.80 on a single spin.

The competition between the Horseshoe Casino and the Hard Rock Casino for gaming market dominance in Northwest Indiana is not letting up.

"These funds will go a long way to help us provide much needed services to people in our area who are struggling," said Captain Brian Clark, Lake County Salvation Army coordinator.

The Indiana Gaming Commission unanimously approved an agreement Wednesday transferring majority ownership of the Gary casino to Hard Rock International, an enterprise of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Data released Thursday by the Indiana Gaming Commission show more money was wagered in July on table games at Hard Rock than any other casino in the state, including the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.

The Hard Rock Casino in Gary is continuing to challenge the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond for the title of top gaming destination in Northwest Indiana.

The winner, identified by the casino only as a resident of the Jasper County town of Wheatfield, hit the machine's "super grand" progressive jackpot worth $220,980.95.

A new millionaire was created Friday with a $5.88 spin on a slot machine at the Four Winds Casino in South Bend.

An incredible $355.4 million was wagered in Indiana on sporting events in September, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission. The previous record, from January 2021, was $348.2 million.

The Illinois Gaming Board's decision leaves the casino development plans for Homewood and Matteson as the two finalists in the long-running effort to bring casino gambling to the south suburbs.

Hard Rock Casino presented both Gary Police Chief Brian Evans and Gary Fire Chief Sean O'Donnell guitar-shaped checks worth $72,000 to purchase two 2022 Ford F-150 trucks for each department.

The Illinois Gaming Board is facing a choice between greater state and local tax revenue or more economic opportunity for minority groups as it weighs where to locate the south suburban casino license.

The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in October attracted more play and earned more "win," or revenue after paying successful bettors, than the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.

Wind Creek's proposal calls for a $440 million casino and luxury hotel tower to open in mid-2023 south of Interstate 80-294 at Halsted Street on the border of Homewood and East Hazel Crest, Illinois.

Hard Rock's win from slot machines and table games totaled $30,850,687 for the month, while Horseshoe's monthly win was $30,687,628.

One of the biggest gambles in the history of Indiana's gaming industry has unquestionably paid off across the board.