An Anne Arundel County woman who won $1.87 million from a slot machine at a New Jersey casino yesterday says she plans to take her extended family on vacation.
Juanita Morris, 51, of Severna Park wasn't having much luck at roulette at Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., so she dropped some money in a progressive slot called the Wheel of Fortune, hitting the $1,870,173 jackpot.
Morris said she and her husband, Wayne, 58, always go to Atlantic City to gamble on Aug. 24, the birthday of one of her sons, Jimmy Morris. Now she wants to buy him a new truck.
"But he probably won't let me," she said.
Casino officials presented the couple with a check for $93,508. They'll receive an equal sum annually for the next 19 years.
Wayne Morris owned a chain of eight area hardware stores, and his children -- Jimmy, Wayne and Pamela -- worked in them. Two years ago, he sold the stores.
"For a long time, we have been talking about going on one big family vacation," Juanita Morris said. "We couldn't do it before because all the kids worked in Wayne's hardware stores. Now, everyone should be able to arrange their schedules. And it's a great way to share our winnings."
She said she plans to take her husband, children, their spouses and eight grandchildren to Hawaii or Arizona.
"I still can't believe I won," she said.
Pub Date: 8/25/97
