Big Jackpot Winner

O'Neal, 58, hit a mega casino online jackpot early Thursday morning at Eagle Mountain Casino, netting just shy of $207,000 - before taxes - during a family outing to the local casino. “I got there and within 10 minutes I hit that pot,” an excited O'Neal said Friday of his winning experience. “I'll tell you what, I was really in shock.” For O'Neal, the winnings couldn't have come at a better time. He's been out of work for about two years. The former apartment maintenance manager said he suffered a serious work-related shoulder injury, requiring surgery, and was unable to return to his former job. O'Neal said his income plummeted from about $3,000 a month to approximately $800 a month. He and his wife, Elaine O'Neal, 58, were forced to move in with a daughter’ and watch their budget closely.

Terrill said you always hear of people losing everything for any number of reasons, but you never think you're at risk. “When it happens to you, you realize, it's rough, you know what I mean?” he said. “We've had a rough two years.” “How bad it was, I was playing a penny machine,” Elaine said. “I was shocked. I really couldn't believe it.” “It still hasn't really sunk in yet,” Terrill said. The O'Neals, with roots firmly planted in Porterville soil, have been married 37 years. They plan on buying themselves a mobile home, “and help the kids out a bit,” Terrill said. He said casino officials told him this is the first big jackpot won by a local resident at Eagle Mountain Casino. “This guy told me this is really special because it's a local person,” Terrill said. “The money is going to be spent here, not in Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno.”