Sept. 30 will always be a special day for Rachel Elmore of Ione. Following the death of her husband earlier in the year, 53-year-old Elmore was just beginning to look for a job when she hit a $1.2 million MegaJackpot at Jackson Rancheria Casino.

She was initially playing on one of her two favorite $5 Wheel of Fortune slot machines in the High Limit Room when she won a $1,200 jackpot. While she was waiting to complete the paperwork on that win, she moved over to the Wheel machine next to it, played for a few minutes and then hit the MegaJackpot for $1,270,178.73.

"I was a little confused," she admited, when the machine first hit. "I expected all kinds of bells and noise and it was really rather quiet. The first two (winning) symbols came up very quickly but the third one came real slow."

She didn't realize how large the jackpot was until an attendant arrived. "Then I just sat there and looked at it for a while."

Elmore and her husband moved to the Ione area about five years ago to be near their son. Following her husband's death in May, she was beginning to look for a job.

She said the jackpot means "peace of mind" and "stability."

"Jackson Rancheria Casino has had more MegaJackpot winners than any other casino in California," said Jackson Rancheria Director of Marketing Mike Pistoia.

Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson. For more information, call (800) 822-WINN or visit www.jacksoncasino.com.