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Woman Celebrates Anniversary with $4.3 Million Slot Jackpot

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – (PRESS RELEASE) -- A 47-year-old Chalmette woman celebrating her wedding anniversary alone while her husband of 38 years fulfilled his scheduled offshore work duties won a $4,336,288 Wheel of Fortune(R) $1 denomination progressive slot jackpot at Harrah's New Orleans Casino early Friday evening.

Geraldine C. Armstrong, a 57-year-old secretary, was returning home from a church retreat when, as she put it, "divine providence" directed her to stop at Harrah's.

"God certainly had something to do with it," a still-stunned Armstrong stated with conviction. "The exit for Harrah's was right there and He told me to 'go have fun.'"

Armstrong had wagered $70 on the Wheel of Fortune(R) machine and was in the process of playing out her last credits when she hit the statewide progressive MegaJackpots(TM) prize. She had $4 remaining on the machine at the time of her win.

"The feeling is indescribable," Armstrong stated wide-eyed after Louisiana State Police and IGT technicians verified the win. "Fantastic!"

While still not 100 percent sure how she will spend her windfall, Armstrong said she would use the money to help her 82-year-old mother, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, and provide for her granddaughter and three grandsons.

"I can make a lot of plans and help a lot of people," Armstrong said thoughtfully before departing from Harrah's about midnight. She added, "I just know God is good and we'll just figure it out together. He'll guide me where I need to go."

Armstrong is the ninth MegaJackpots(TM) winner in Louisiana this year, bringing the total statewide payout to almost $19 in 2004. This is the third MegaJackpots(TM) prize won at Harrah's New Orleans Casino in as many months and the second in one week.

The Wheel of Fortune(R) $1 progressive slot machine is based on the popular television game show, "Wheel of Fortune(R)." The jackpot is paid when a player plays the maximum bet ($3) and lines up all three winning symbols on the appropriate pay line. After the jackpot is verified, the Wheel of Fortune(R) meter is reset at $1 million. The Wheel of Fortune(R) progressive system is one of 12 Louisiana MegaJackpots(TM) systems operated by IGT, a world leader in the manufacturing of gaming machines and proprietary software for progressive gaming systems. All IGT MegaJackpots(TM) awards are paid in annual installments upon verification, except MegaJackpots(TM) Instant Winners(TM) jackpots and Rapid Riches MegaJackpots(TM) awards, which are paid in their entirety upon verification. Wheel of Fortune(R) is a registered trademark of Califon Productions Inc. For more information on IGT, visit the company web site at http://www.IGT.com.

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