It didn’t take long to crown the first major progressive jackpot winner in our new Blazing 7s game.

The jackpot, which links side-bet wagers from 32 blackjack tables across three of Oneida Nation Enterprises’ casino properties, hit in late April, and turned a $5 bet into more than $104,000.

The winning guest, a local schoolteacher who asked to remain anonymous, took down the big prize with three matching 7s of spades. Two of the 7s were in the guest’s hand; the third 7 was the card showing on the dealer’s hand.

Guy Renzi, Vice President of Gaming Operations for Oneida Nation Enterprises, said he was “surprised” by how quickly the jackpot hit, considering we installed the game roughly three months ago.

“A $5 wager made this guest rich,” Guy said. “That’s the kind of thing we love to see.”

The linked progressive jackpot means that guests who play Blazing 7s at any of the three Oneida Nation Enterprises casinos have an opportunity to win the big prize. Turning Stone Resort Casino has 16 blackjack tables linked to the progressive, Point Place Casino in Bridgeport has 11, and YBR Casino & Sports Book in Chittenango has five.

The inaugural winner was at Point Place Casino when he won the jackpot. According to reports, the guest had only played a few hands before winning, and had been joking with dealers about what he’d do if he won.

As soon as the guest collected his winnings, the jackpot reset at $10,000. Again, because it is linked to 32 tables over three properties, it began growing quickly. In four days, it jumped to nearly $30,000. As of press time it was hovering around $65,000.

News of the big win spread quickly, and Guy said interest in the Blazing 7s side bet has grown since.

“Guests are always looking for fun and exciting ways to play, and this game gives them another option,” Guy said. “This is just another way we’re making sure the experience here is second to none.”