Louisiana woman scoops $1m at casino
7th January, 2008
A 58-year-old Louisiana woman has had a prosperous start to 2008, managing to scoop $1 million (£505,000) at a local casino, it has been reported.
Wendy Barraco had entered a promotional competition held at the Mississippi-based Silver Slipper Casino, when she received the massive windfall on Sunday night.
Weeks before she had entered her name into a draw to win the cash prize along with hundreds of other hopefuls from the area, who had regularly played at the casino.
Speaking to the SunHerald.com, Ms Barraco, who was not at the casino when her name was drawn, said: "I'm shaking. I still think this is a joke.
"I just checked the casino's website to see if y'all had posted a winner, I can't believe it."
The money will be received in instalments of $200,000 a year to the lucky winner, who added that she had promised to split the cash with her husband.
General manger of the Silver Slipper John Ferruci, who announced Ms Barraco's name on the casino floor, said it would be a year before it would hold a similar competition. 
