Woman hits $12.8 million jackpot in Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- An anonymous gambler hit the Megabucks jackpot Friday at CityCenter's Aria, winning almost $12.8 million.

The winner had played $6 in a Megabucks slot machine at Aria when the jackpot hit. The slot machine is linked to similar slot machines in casinos throughout Nevada, which make up the Megabucks network.

International Game Technology operates the Megabucks system.

The Aria customer was visiting Las Vegas to celebrate her niece's birthday. She played the Megabucks slot machine by chance.

"I was on my way to my room when I saw this machine and decided to play," the player said in a statement released by IGT. After lining up the winning symbols, the player thought the slot machine had malfunctioned.

Her niece, however, realized her aunt had won $12,769,933.

The winner said she plans on "paying off the mortgage" with the winnings.

IGT launched Megabucks in 1986. The world record slot machine jackpot of more than $39 million was won on a Megabucks slot machine in March 2003 at Excalibur.