Iowa Casino Slots Player Hits $1,500 Jackpot, Now Faces Years in Prison
- 30 Jul 2025
- Gambling News
Earlier this month, a casino player from Iowa won a lot of money on a slot machine, but his luck soon changed.
Last Tuesday, July 22, Luis Miguel Mejia was taken into custody by the Lyon County Sheriff's Office after police found him using a warrant issued by a local court. After police informed Lyon County's Judicial District 3 Court that they had enough evidence to suspect Mejia of committing two Class D felony offenses on July 13 while at the Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood, the warrant was granted.
On Sunday, July 13, Mejia allegedly won a $1,517.40 jackpot while playing a slot machine at the Elite Casino Resorts-owned and managed business, according to the police.
Law enforcement claims that Mejia promptly had a friend sit in the seat to collect the earnings and the related IRS tax document because the slot win exceeded $1,200, the amount that necessitates a slot attendant to provide the winner a tax form and deliver their cash prizes by hand.
The Citizenship in Question
According to the criminal complaint, Mejia does not possess a Social Security number. According to Iowa court documents, he was accused of speeding and operating a vehicle without a license in February 2015.
In order to avoid being discovered as not being a registered resident, Mejia allegedly had a friend sit in the machine, according to the complaint against him for the slot win event. The slot attendant at Grand Falls Casino would not have been able to finish the handpay since Mejia is alleged to lack a driver's license, Social Security number, or other documentation of residency or citizenship.
According to Iowa court documents, Mejia has been charged with two Class D felonies: "conspiracy to commit non-forcible felony" and "gambling — avoid forfeiture of money."
Each Class D felony conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a maximum fine of $7,500, according to attorneys with the Des Moines legal firm McCarthy & Hamrock.
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Iowa and Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport are owned and run by Elite Casino Resorts in partnership with Grand Falls. Additionally, Elite controls casinos in Illinois and Nebraska.
Procedure for Redemption of Slot Jackpots
When a slot machine at a commercial or tribal casino hits for $1,200 or more, a handpay is activated.
It is the responsibility of the slot attendant to confirm the identity of the winner. Following that, the attendant is required to provide the winner with a W-2G form attesting to the fact that their earnings are being reported to the federal revenue agency.
There is a higher chance of an IRS audit if W-2G gambling gains are not reported on an individual's yearly return.
Starting on January 1, 2026, the slot tax reporting threshold will rise to $2,000. President Donald Trump and the Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" were responsible for the hike.
The capital of the country is still working to raise the slot barrier to at least $5,000. Since 1997, the $1,200 barrier had remained unchanged.
