Homepage > Travel

'Wheel' Slot Pays Out $11.2M Jackpot

Riviera Holding Transsexual Beauty Contest

UPDATED: 10:26 a.m. EDT May 24, 2004

The top prize on the "Wheel of Fortune" television show is a paltry $100,000. Paltry, at least, when compared to the record-breaking $11.2 million "Wheel of Fortune" slot jackpot won at the Golden Nugget last week.

A Las Vegas resident who wished to remain anonymous hit the jackpot on the $1 machine, eclipsing the previous high mark for the "Wheel" reels of $10.7 million. The jackpot was reset back to its starting point at $1 million, but as of this writing is already up over $2 million.


If you want to gamble but Vegas is just not exotic enough for you, you can now get your slot machine kicks Vegas-style in China. Sands Macau, now open in the Macau province just west of Hong Kong, is a new, 1 million-square-foot, $240 million casino and entertainment complex operated by the same folks who own The Venetian. It's the first of three new casinos operated by U.S. companies expected to open in the next few years, including a Venetian-brand resort and another from Steve Wynn.


Blues, brews, and barbecue -- sounds like a perfect recipe to me. That's also what organizers are calling the second annual festival of food, beer and music at the Cannery Hotel in the northern part of Las Vegas. The festival is designed to kick start summer and will feature authentic barbecue from local restaurants, more than 30 craft and locally brewed beers, and a schedule of blues and zydeco bands.

If you're going to be in town June 18-20, you should go check it out. For more information visit CanneryResort.com.

Back to the beer for second -- for $15 you get a "bottomless" cup good for refills at any of the brewers on hand.


Looks like the Olympics aren't the only place welcoming transsexuals these days. The Riviera will host "The World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest" from July 22 through July 24, with the winner receiving $5,000 and a trip to the Virgin Islands.

Similar to traditional beauty pageants, this one will feature swimwear, evening gown, interview and talent competitions. Unlike other pageants, contestants will need to provide proof of their natural gender, with a birth certificate. Both pre- and post-operative transsexuals will be allowed to enter, meaning the contestants must be somewhere on the road to gender reassignment, as opposed to just a man in a dress.


Steve Wynn opened his checkbook again, and this time has secured the services of 10 of the world's best chefs to cook at the opening of his $2 billion Wynn Las Vegas megaresort next April. Wynn paid $500,000 for the chefs' services at an auction benefiting an Alzheimer's research foundation. The list includes epicurean luminaries such as Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller of Bouchon and Napa restaurants, Charlie Palmer and Nobu Matsuhisa, among others.

The celeb-chef cookfest was one of several items auctioned, raising more than $5 million was raised to fund an Alzheimer's hospice in Las Vegas. Nice work, folks.

This Week's Trivia

Q: What is the biggest (in terms of number of seats) concert, sporting and entertainment venue at a Las Vegas casino? ANSWER

The Weekly Trivia Question is sponsored by the Online Memorabilia Museum at Vegas4Visitors.com

The Full Story

In Next Week's Column

Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.

Plus, don't forget to send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!

Click here to go to the main page of Vegas4Visitors.com and see all of the fantastic resources Vegas4Visitors has to offer you when planning your next trip to Las Vegas.

Links We Like

In the workplace it’s the little things that get you noticed and help you stand out above the rest. Do these things and increase your chances for a promotion. More

If your credit is shabby, you'll need to shore up your score to convince a lender you're worthy. Here's how to boost your point total. More

Exercise has many benefits for people with ADHD, including improved attention spans, focus, and even sleep patterns. More

Featured On 5

Today's Hot Deals