Progressive poker record: Woman's $5 bet wins a $1.7 million, the largest jackpot won at a Caesars Entertainment casino in Atlantic City

Philly News
 
Progressive poker record: Woman's $5 bet wins a $1.7 million, the largest jackpot won at a Caesars Entertainment casino in Atlantic City
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A Monmouth County woman set a progressive poker record earlier this month when she hit a mega jackpot at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, winning $1.68 million off a $5 bet, the casino said.

The woman, described by Harrah's as a "longtime customer" of Caesars Entertainment casinos, claimed the largest jackpot ever at one of the company's Atlantic City casinos. 

Her win came Dec. 17, ahead of the Christmas holiday, and she generously tipped her dealers $77,000, NJ.com reported. That's about 4.6% of her total prize. 

"Most people give tips, but this was jaw-dropping," Harrah's Atlantic City Director of Table Games Michael Zippel said in a statement given to Fox Business. "Our dealers work hard all year long and truly deserve it."

At Tropicana Atlantic City, another Caesars Entertainment casino, a New Jersey man won a $1.1 million jackpot last February on a progressive poker game and left a $50,000 tip for the dealers. That was the previous record for the company's Atlantic City properties.

Caesars Entertainment is in the midst of a $400 million investment plan to renovate its resort facilities at its three Atlantic City casinos. Its flagship casino is Caesars Atlantic City on the Boardwalk.

New Jersey is considered one of the best states in the U.S. to make a living playing poker, whether at a casino or online. On Monday, PokerStars announced that it will combine its online player pools in New Jersey and Michigan beginning in January, expanding interstate play in an effort to grow the industry and lead to bigger prizes. A similar arrangement was reached in 2015 by gambling regulators in Nevada and Delaware.

"Michigan and New Jersey joining forces is great news for our players in these two states, and poker, more generally, as it promises a better experience and even more value, all with the confidence provided by a trusted, licensed operator," Severin Rasset, PokerStars U.S. managing director, told the Associated Press.