Las Vegas slots player wins $15.5M jackpot on Christmas Eve

It is the largest slots prize won in Nevada for eight years

Las Vegas slots player wins $15.5M jackpot on Christmas Eve (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A Las Vegas gambler enjoyed a holiday miracle as they won $15.5 million playing a slot machine on Christmas Eve.

It was the largest slots win in Nevada in eight years, according to the Suncoast Hotel and Casino, where a man identified only as Kevin scooped the cash.

"MEGABUCKS JACKPOT ALERT!" the casino tweeted with a picture of the winner hidden by a giant check.

"Congratulations to Kevin for hitting the $15,491,103 Megabucks Progressive Jackpot at @suncoastcasino!”

The man reportedly won the prize after putting just $40 into the machine.

"It was certainly a Christmas Eve to remember," said a spokesman from Boyd Gaming, which owns the casino.

"We’re excited and honoured we could play a part in this historic holiday jackpot at the Suncoast.”

The casino said that the winner divides his time between Alaska and Las Vegas, and that he will invest the money in his business and also “pay it forward.”