2 lucky gamblers win big at Sacramento-area casinos. See where and how much
Two lucky gamblers won big at casinos in the Sacramento region — including a slot machine player who scored a “life-changing jackpot.”
The “lucky winner” played the Buffalo Link game at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, 1200 Athens Ave. in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, and took home $211,077, casino officials announced in a Facebook post.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, casino officials shared a photo of the game with an oversized check made to the “Big Winner” on Facebook, although they did not name the jackpot winner.
Each spin on the Buffalo Link game costs a nickel, the casino confirmed Friday, Nov. 21.
“Hearing that yet another life-changing jackpot has been won never gets old,” Dawn Clayton, general manager of Thunder Valley Casino Resort, said in a Thursday, Nov. 20 news release. “With the holiday season approaching, it’s incredible to see how quickly someone’s luck can change.”
Facebook users congratulated the slot machine winner with comments including “Yippee!” and “Amazing!!”
“Wow! Congratulations, that’s a life-changing win,” Facebook user Cheryln Rickards Staas wrote in a comment on Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s post.
“Congratulations to the 1 out of 100,” Douglas Lemons wrote in a Facebook comment.
Lincoln is about 28 miles east of Sacramento by car.
Poker player wins jackpot at Sacramento-area casino
Two days earlier, a poker player won a $109,361 jackpot at Sky River Casino, 1 Sky River Parkway in Elk Grove, the casino announced via Facebook.
The man, identified by the casino as Blue Card rewards program member Eduardo B., hit it big on Monday, Nov. 17, while playing Face-Up Pai Gow Poker, Sky River Casino said in a Facebook post.
The casino table game is based on the traditional Chinese domino game pai gow, with poker rules and a player-versus-dealer format, according to Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks.
“What would you do if you hit a $109,361 jackpot on your day off of work?” Sky River Casino said in its Monday post, sharing a photo of Eduardo B. holding a large check.
Facebook commenter Jessica Riddle had a suggestion for the winning player: “Take the next day off also!”
Other Facebook users congratulated the lucky gambler on his “awesome job” snagging the jackpot.
This win comes nearly one month after another Sky River Casino player won $116,319 at the same table.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 11:23 AM.
