Shawnta R. Taylor, a 28-year-old mother from Gallup, New Mexico, hit a $727,099 penny Temple of Treasure® jackpot at the Sahara Hotel and Casino early Sunday, July 13.


The lucky winner was in town vacationing with family members.  Sunday was their last day visiting Las Vegas, so Taylor decided to play the lucky machine one more time while the rest of her family slept in.


"I had been playing this game since we arrived," she said.  "When I won, I knew that I hit some sort of bonus and realized shortly after that it was the progressive.  It was a great end to our fun Las Vegas vacation."


Taylor plans to use a portion of her winnings to purchase a car.  She plans to continue to stay at home with her three children and said that her winnings will be a big financial help for her family. 


Located on the northern end of the famed Las Vegas Strip, the Sahara Hotel and Casino is a desert jewel rich with history and nostalgia. Since 1952, the Sahara has been a refuge for glitzy entertainment, exhilarating casino action, sumptuous dining and relaxing poolside decadence.


The last remaining "Rat Pack" resort, the Sahara was the setting for the original "Ocean's Eleven" film and has played host to everyone from The Beatles to Dean Martin to Marilyn Monroe.  The legendary Sahara offers guests the opportunity to experience classic Vegas at its best, at one of the last remaining properties of the Strip's glamorous heyday.


Sahara Hotel and Casino