A Laurel man became a millionaire with a $5 wager at Live! Casino and Hotel on a blackjack progressive side bet.
Manuel Ortiz won $1,075,710 at the casino in Hanover, Md., March 3 when he was dealt the Queen-Jack of diamonds, and the dealer had a King Diamonds as his up card and turned his hole card over to reveal the Ace of diamonds.
The four cards combined between the dealer and player created a "royal flush" in diamonds that was good for the progressive jackpot on the Super 4 Blackjack Progressive.
According to the Live! Casino and Hotel website: "The Super 4 Progressive wager wins whenever the Dealer gets Blackjack, or whenever the Dealer's 'up card' is an Ace.
"Additionally any player who makes a Super 4 Progressive wager shall receive an Envy Bonus when another player at the same table is the holder of a Royal Flush.
"When the dealer has Blackjack, the player's two cards and the dealer's Blackjack are combined to make a four card hand."
There's a schedule of payouts for various dealer-player combinations ranging from a low of $10 up to the jackpot that Ortiz won.
Ortiz had been playing for just less than two hours when he hit the jackpot.
Photo courtesy of Live! Casino and Hotel