Casino City’s Friday Five: Millionaires, openings and new fees

Last week, Illinois announced a new budget, which includes a 25-cent tax per wager being applied to the first 20 million online sports wagers made every year in the state. In response, two major operators announced a transaction fee of their own. In addition, we have a pair of massive wins, official dates for the Seminole Hard Rock Poker, and a California casino resort breaking ground on expansion.

Let’s start this off with a land-based jackpot win:

5. Recenet retiree wins $1 million at Choctaw Casino
Choctaw Casino Resort - Durant in Oklahoma announced its first millionaire of the summer early Sunday morning as part of the 2025 edition of “3 Months. 3 Millionaires.” Fuong from Garland, Texas, became the first of three lucky winners to become an instant millionaire.

Last week, Fuong retired from the jewelry company she’d been working at for 33 years. She said she plans to spend her money on her three children and six grandchildren, as well as investing.

We named our first millionaire of the summer, Fuong H., from Garland, TX, during our '3 Months. 3 Millionaires.' Giveaway! Two more chances remain for you to take home the $1 MILLION grand prize on Saturday, July 5 & August 2. Who will become our second MILLIONAIRE of the summer? pic.twitter.com/b0yjZSzoxe
— ChoctawDurant (@ChoctawDurant) June 8, 2025

4. Games Global progressive jackpot Mega Moolah pays out nearly £11.5 million
Games Global announced a major progressive jackpot win after a U.K.-based player claimed £11,498,211 on the Mega Moolah slot.

The win, which was attained by a Betfred Casino player, is the first eight-figure Mega Moolah payout in recent months and was struck on the original Mega Moolah title.

?? £11,498,211.89 ??

THE biggest jackpot we have ever paid out in our 58-year history!

One lucky punter turned a £1.50 stake on our Mega Moolah game into a massive £11.5m... pic.twitter.com/oi689l9wKp
— Betfred (@Betfred) June 9, 2025

3. Semonile Hard Rock Poker Open announced
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open will celebrate its top tournament series at South Florida’s iconic entertainment destination Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

SHRPO will kick off on 30 July with the $400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em series opener featuring a $1 million guarantee.

The Big 4 is a collection of four-tournament finales with staggered structures, timed so the final tables are played simultaneously. Carrying combined prize pools of $4.75 million. The Big 4 events include:

- $5,300 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry Per Day), $3 Million Guarantee, starts Friday, 8 August at 11 a.m.
- $3,000 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry), $500,000 Guarantee, Sunday, 10 August at 2 p.m.
- $1,100 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry), $250,000 Guarantee, starts Monday, 11 August at 1 p.m.
- $25,500 High Roller No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry), $1 Million Guarantee, Monday, 11 August at 1 p.m.

2. Graton Resort and Casino breaks ground for major hotel expansion
Graton Resort & Casino in California recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its hotel expansion.

Slated to debut in 2027, this project adds two new hotel wings, seamlessly extending from the existing tower. These additions feature 220 new rooms, designed with a contemporary aesthetic consistent with Graton's current standards of luxury.

Guests will also experience an expanded lobby retail shop, offering a selection of luxury items as well as a new private VIP entrance.

1. Two operators respond to Illinois transaction fee
Flutter Entertainment noted the recent decision by the Illinois State legislature to introduce a betting transaction fee for licensed operators on all sports wagers placed within the state from 1 July.

In response, from 1 September, FanDuel, Flutter’s U.S. brand, announces that it will introduce a new $0.50 transaction fee on each bet placed on its platform in Illinois.

The introduction of this fee by the state follows a substantial increase in the betting tax rate in Illinois in 2024. Following the 2024 increase, extensive efforts were made by FanDuel to absorb the cost fully without impacting customers.

In addition, DraftKings announced that it will also implement a 50-cent transaction fee on all mobile and online bets placed in Illinois through DraftKings Sportsbook, effective 1 September.