(Chasing) Megabucks

Here is a list of our almost wins, in chronological order:

*near win = literally within inches of winning

1) April 2nd, 2021 - Park MGM

2) June 22nd, 2024 - Fontainebleau

3) November 28th, 2025 - OYO

4) December 21st, 2025 - Casino Royale (x2) *near win

5) February 14th, 2026 - Downtown Grand *near win

6) February 14th, 2026 - Plaza *near win

7) April 5th, 2026 - Park MGM

8) April 30th, 2026 - Santa Fe Station

9) May 1st, 2026 - 4 Queens *near win

10) June 13th, 2026 - Green Valley Ranch (x2)

11) June 13th, 2026 - Red Rock Casino

12) June 30th, 2026 - Aria (x13 different times in one session) *near win

13) July 4th, 2026 - Circa (x3) 

14) July 4th, 2026 - Fremont (x7) *near win

15) July 4th, 2026 - Plaza

16) July 5th, 2026 - 4 Queens 

17) July 5th, 2026 - Downtown Grand (x2) *near win (x2)

18) August 4th, 2026 - Flamingo (x2) *near win (x2)

19) August 8th, 2026 - Resorts World *near win

20) September 5th, 2026 - Bellagio

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1) April 2nd, 2021 - Park MGM

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen 

2) June 22nd, 2024 - Fontainebleau

• No photo

3) November 28th, 2025 - OYO

• 3 out of 3 symbols on screen - aligned within 1/4 total inch of the payline - didn't bet $3...

4) December 21st, 2025 - Casino Royale (x2) 

• 3 out of 3 symbols on screen - aligned within 3 total inches of the payline

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen and 1 locked in position

5) February 14th, 2026 - Downtown Grand

• 4 out of 5 symbols on Wolf Run

6) February 14th, 2026 - Plaza

• 3 out of 3 symbols on screen - aligned within 2 total inches of the payline

7) April 5th, 2026 - Park MGM

• 3 out of 5 symbols on Mega Vault (Spin #1)

• 3 out of 5 symbols on Mega Vault (very next sequential Spin)

8) April 30th, 2026 - Santa Fe Station

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen 

9) May 1st, 2026 - 4 Queens 

• 3 out of 3 symbols on screen - aligned within 2 total inches of the payline

10) June 13th, 2026 - Green Valley Ranch (x2)

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen 

11) June 13th, 2026 - Red Rock Casino

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen 

12) June 30th, 2026 - Aria (x13 different times in one session) 

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen (x11)

• 3 out of 3 symbols on screen - aligned within 2 total inches of the payline

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen - and 1 locked in position

13) July 4th, 2026 - Circa (x3) 

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen 

14) July 4th, 2026 - Fremont (x7)

• 3 out of 3 symbols on screen - aligned within 3 total inches of the payline

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen - and 1 locked in position

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen (x5)

15) July 4th, 2026 - Plaza

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen 

16) July 5th, 2026 - 4 Queens 

• 2 out of 3 required symbols on screen 

17) July 5th, 2026 - Downtown Grand (x2)

• 4 out of 5 symbols on Wolf Run (x2)

18) August 4th, 2026 - Flamingo (x2)

• 4 out of 5 symbols on Wolf Run (x2)

19) August 8th, 2026 - Resorts World

• 4 out of 5 symbols on Wolf Run

May 1st 2026.

Another day, another almost $10+ Million Dollars.

#the sadness

July 5th 2026.

Keep dreamin' - I guess.

Want to see us almost win it 13 different times, in one single session at Aria?

Ok.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

Dropped the bet to $1 for a single spin and got this.

What the actual eff?

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

September 5th, 2026.

December 21st, 2025.

A lovely day for some Megabucks chasing at the most Royale Casino in Las Vegas.

Ok that's a good sign.

I have this theory that whenever one of the symbols shows up on the screen, it's possible for them all to circle back around and land on the payline within the next few spins.

So of course I was willing to play a few bucks. 

I'm not mad, just pre-emptively dissapointed.

And then a few spins later, motherf*cker.

Quick note: if you ever make your wife this mad by not winning the Megabucks, but almost winning the Megabucks - it's best to just back away slowly. Very slowly. Incredibly slowly. So slowly your movements become imperceptable.

$3 bet, jackpot eligible.

But sure, $15 instead is just great. 

Who wants $336,651 a year for the next 30 years anyway?

Thanks Casino Royale. You probably need the money more than we do, apparently.

July 4th, 2026.

#1

July 4th, 2026.

#2

July 4th, 2026.

#2 Alternate View

July 4th, 2026.

#3

February 14th, 2026.

Valentine's Day.

Notice the text that says "Megabucks with 5 Megabucks on the Reels"

$3 bet, jackpot eligible.

She's (understandably) not happy.

4/5 needed for the Megabucks.

In school, that would be 80%.

That's a B (in more ways than one).

A passing grade.

Can't we at least get something on that??

First she was mad, now she is sad.

We always say you know you're lucky if you can win on Wolf Run.

I guess we weren't lucky that day.

July 5th, 2026

4 out of 5, on a holiday, again.

Seeing a pattern here? 

I am.

July 5th, 2026

4 out of 5, again, again.

August 4th, 2026.

Wife's friend visiting from out of state, I'm playing, I'm like "here you take a spin see if you're lucky".

4 out of 5 symbols in sequential order!

80% of the way to winning, they should pay us 80% of the jackpot, in my opinion!!

August 4th, 2026.

Then on her next spin, gets 4 out of 5 again!

We're going to win this thing one of these days!

June 22nd, 2024.

$3 bet, jackpot eligible.

Enchanted gambling totem, engaged.

I don't think I have any other photos of this one because I'm pretty sure I just got up and walked off b/c I was so pissed right after.

Think we got like 1 symbol short of winning the MB during the bonus.

I was not a happy camper!

July 4th, 2026.

The Casino Trifecta.

#1

Strong start.

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

Ok, maybe on the next holiday then instead.

June 13th, 2026

You know what they say (almost) 2 out of 3 ain't bad!

June 13th, 2026

You know what else they say? I'm starting to think these games are rigged...

November 28th, 2025.

A normal day of light gambling, like any other...

Lucky gambling totem engaged.

I certainly am...

A micrometer below the payline - now I didn't bet $3.00 this time, so I don't think I would have gotten it anyway, but still, tell me that ain't some bullshit!

Sure, $1.25 instead is just great. Thank you OYO Hotel and Casino.

April 2nd, 2021.

Should just call it $10 million dollars or nothin'!

April 5th, 2026.

Somebody did win the Megabucks at Mandalay Bay like 2 days before this, so clearly the game would block anybody else from winning (until it's been 5-6 months and it's on or near a holiday...)

I don't technically count this one as "almost" winning because it was only 3 Megabucks symbols.

But... she spun and got 3 symbols, I spun immediately after and that next spin also got 3 symbols.

So there were 6 symbols grouped together (separated by 1 spin), and you only need 5 to win, so technically a near win, I guess!

February 14th, 2026.

Valentine's Day.

$3 bet, jackpot eligible.

Came up an inch short at the Plaza. 

Isn't that the story of my life??

July 4th, 2026.

Yup, no surprise there.

June 13th, 2026

Third time we got close that day, twice at Green Valley Ranch, then this.

August 8th, 2026

4/5 on an absent-minded spin.

Am I ever going to win this thing?

April 30th, 2026

Two days of dealing with the absolute worst ju-ju of all time from a bad experience at the car dealership where they messed up a repair and treated us really poorly over their own mistake.

Sure would have helped if this would have hit!