Woman wins big at La Grange casino

LAGRANGE, Mo. -- A New London woman hit a $2.1 million jackpot on a progressive slot machine, just two days after the 25-cent machine went online.

Brenda Preston won the jackpot Saturday afternoon at Terrible's Mark Twain Casino.

Preston, 40, said she was looking at another slot machine she planned to play when the gambler next to her congratulated her on winning.

At first she thought she'd won about $200,000, but the jackpot had another digit.

Dave Murray, slot manager at Terrible's, said the progressive machine -- connected with similar machines at other Missouri casinos -- just began operating Thursday.

After a standard check of the machine, Preston received a check for about $100,000.

If she opts for the annual payoff, she'll get 19 similar checks in coming years, though she said the funds will shrink to about $65,000 after taxes. She could opt to receive a smaller lump sum payoff, which she estimated would give her about $700,000 after taxes.