SALAMANCA, N.Y. – Nang Thai won a $1.1 million Wheel of Fortune Special Edition MegaJackpot at Seneca Allegany Casino March 7.

The winner is from Benus Point, N.Y., and said Seneca Allegany is his “favorite casino.” The new millionaire said he “just felt lucky today” and was familiar with the winning machine. “[I] sit in the same chair because I like the puzzle feature,” Thai said. After investing around $400, Thai was surprised to find he had won the top progressive prize. “I glanced down and saw all yellow, so I looked up at the jackpot amount and just froze.” When asked about immediate plans for his winnings, Thai said he will, “finish my car payment and take care of the little one and fiancé at home.”

Thai’s jackpot is the first Wheel of Fortune Special Edition progressive to be paid, and the largest MegaJackpot awarded to date at the casino. It is the second MegaJackpot prize over $1 million to be awarded at Seneca Allegany. In April 2006, the casino paid a $1.1 million Jeopardy! Video Slots Tournament of Champions nickel progressive. The casino has now awarded more than $5 million in MegaJackpot prize money since 2004.

Seneca Gaming Corporation is a wholly owned, tribally chartered corporation of the Seneca Nation of Indians (Nation) that operates all of the nation’s Class III gaming operations in western New York. Seneca Gaming Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Seneca Niagara Falls Gaming Corporation (SNFGC), Seneca Territory Gaming Corporation and Seneca Erie Gaming Corporation, operates three casinos: In Niagara Falls, N.Y. is Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, in Salamanca, N.Y. is Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel and in Buffalo, N.Y. is Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. For more information visit the Web site.

Seneca Allegany, along with 300 other tribal casinos across the nation, belongs to a 17-state Native American progressive gaming network. Anytime a coin is played in a linked machine, anywhere in the network, the cumulative jackpot continues to grow. The Wheel of Fortune Special Edition progressive has a starting jackpot of $500,000. In order to win the MegaJackpot, five Wheel of Fortune symbols must line up on the machine’s first payline with a maximum bet wagered. Wheel of Fortune was developed by IGT, a global company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming machines and systems products. All IGT MegaJackpot top awards are paid in annual installments upon verification, except MegaJackpots Instant Winners Jackpots awards, which are paid in their entirety upon verification.