Las Vegas gamblers face long lines at Mirage casino slots as $1.6M giveaway draws mass crowds

The Las Vegas casino that needs to pay out $1.6 million in prizes before it closes next week drew long lines Wednesday as thousands mobbed the iconic Strip fixture in hopes of winning big.   

Just about every open slot machine was occupied during the second day of the six-day progressive cash giveaway at the Mirage, which is shutting its doors on July 17 after more than three decades in business.

With the casino turning off half the slot machines, demand is through the roof, but so is impatience among guests, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Texas resident Krissy Carter came to the Mirage with her sights on some green and ended up seeing red.

“But it’s been such a frustrating experience,” she told the newspaper while waiting at least two hours for a slot to become available.

She even tried to get security to boot a woman who was sitting at a slot machine, but not playing. The woman in response began scrolling through to appear she was about to play, according to the newspaper.

“Everyone has a right to play,” she bemoaned. “But it’s frustrating when people only have like $1 in a machine and they’re not really playing.”

Pro sports better Bill Krackomberger posted a video of the packed casino Wednesday that he called “absolute mayhem.”  

“Every single slot machine whether it’s $100-a-spin, $500-a-spin or 5-cents-a-spin — every single slot machine is taken in the whole place,” he said in the clip showing crowds of hopeful winners.

The casino must hand out huge cash prizes in unclaimed progressive jackpots from both slot machines and table games before closing, according to Nevada state law.

The Mirage was scheduled to hand out guaranteed winnings of $200,000 between Tuesday and Thursday this week with the ante raised to $250,000 on Friday and Saturday. The prize money will then drop to $100,000 next Tuesday.

The drawings are taking place every 30 minutes from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Table games player Nate Rose switched gears Wednesday to try out slots even though he usually doesn’t bother with them because the odds are not in the players’ favor.

“I came to win,” Rose told the Las Vegas Review-Journal as he held a money bag. “If you’re trying to win money, you can’t have a negative attitude. You have to expect to win. I certainly expect to walk out with some stacks.”