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Western Washington casino player turns $3 bet into big jackpot. See how much

A gambler won $72,714 playing a Pig Fu slot machine at Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel in Tacoma.
A gambler won $72,714 playing a Pig Fu slot machine at Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel in Tacoma. Shutterstock / WHYFRAME

A gambler turned a $3 bet into a big slot machine win at a Western Washington casino.

The player won more than $72,000 at Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel in Tacoma, casino officials announced in a Tuesday, March 10, Facebook post.

The gambler placed a $3 bet on the Fu Pig slot machine to nab an $72,714 payout.

“The machines were in a very good mood,” casino officials wrote in the Facebook Post. “Not a bad day to press the spin button.”

Also on Tuesday, the casino highlighted a player who won $23,665 with a spin on the Dancing Drums Explosion slot machine.

Social media users congratulated the winners.

“Wow. Why can’t we do that?” Facebook user Rose Ann Paul wrote in a comment on Emerald Queen Casino’s post.

Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel in Tacoma.
Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel in Tacoma. Brian Hayes bhayes@thenewstribune.com

What is Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel in Tacoma?

Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel is at 920 East R St. in Tacoma.

Advertised as the “entertainment capital of The Northwest,” the casino has 4,400 slot machines and various table games ranging from blackjack to roulette.

In addition to a four-star hotel, the casino has several restaurants.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 1:46 PM.

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Julia Hawkins
The Bellingham Herald
Julia Hawkins joined The Herald as a service journalism and general assignment reporter in December 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
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