Brian’s $10,000 Vegas jackpot win (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Brian’s $10,000 Vegas jackpot win

10:59am Wednesday 12th July 2006 in Local By Vicky O'Hare

CHANCING his arm on a slot machine was the last thing that Brian Saunders did on holiday - and he's so glad he did because he landed a $10,000 jackpot.

Mr Saunders, of Fountains Close, Popley, Basingstoke, was nearing the end of his week-long holiday to Las Vegas with his wife Theresa when he struck it lucky.

Mr Saunders told The Gazette: "We were just wasting some time waiting for the taxi to the airport, and I thought I'd have a last go on the slot machines.

"I put a $100 note in and I had only used $12 when the jackpot light started flashing. It started at $100 then just kept going until it got to $10,000, where it stopped.

"All the alarms on the machine were going off and Americans kept coming over to shake my hand and say well done'. It was crazy."

The couple, who have two children - Carl, 15, and Lisa, 21 - were staying at the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas when they scooped the big win.

All the alarms on the machine were going off and Americans kept coming over to shake my hand and say ‘well done’. It was crazy

Brian Saunders

They had been in the casino and played the slot machines several times throughout their stay but their highest previous win was only about $100.

When Mr Saunders, 43, realised he had hit the jackpot, his first thoughts were whether he and his wife were going to make their flight home.

"When the alarms started going off, one of the girls from the casino came over and asked for my passport so she could go and get the money," he said. "All I could think about was getting my passport back so we didn't miss our flight."

The couple spent the first $1,000 of their winnings on an upgrade to first class for the flight home.

Mrs Saunders, 42, who is the manager at Star Nursery, Chiltern Way, Buckskin, said she couldn't believe that her husband had won the money and when they got to the airport, they thought upgrading to first class was an ideal way to spend some of the cash.

"We will probably never get a chance like that again, so it was definitely money well-spent," she said. "We had unlimited champagne, lots of leg-room and it was generally just more relaxing."

Mr Saunders, 43, is the UK sales manager for Black Box, a technical services company based in Reading. He has told some of his friends and family about the win, but said that nobody believes him.

"Everyone thinks I am making it up," he said. "It's not a life-changing amount of money - it works out at about £5,500 - but it's a nice bonus at the end of the holiday."

Mr and Mrs Saunders plan to spend the money on a winter holiday for the whole family and will splash out on a few luxuries.

Mr Saunders said: "I went to Las Vegas with £1,000 and came back with $10,000. I still can't believe it."