Californian Hits $1.2-Million Slot Jackpot : Merry Christmas for Gambler? You Bet!

A California almond grower says he believed in Santa Claus as a boy--and now he’s convinced that the bearded gent’s for real after winning $1.2 million on a Caesars Palace slot machine Christmas Day.

Mike Matuk, 50, of Bakersfield won the big prize after pouring about $400 in silver dollars into one of a dozen slot machines linked together to combine for the jackpot.

“I was waiting for it,” Matuk said with a grin after Caesars executives dumped a bag of cash on a table in front of the winning machine. “I knew it was going to hit. That’s why I kept coming here.”

“I’d been watching that machine for a long time,” Matuk said at a photo session a day after his lucky break. He eyed a stack of bundles of $20 and $100 bills and said he is “very excited “ about his new fortune.

Matuk, who works a 100-acre almond orchard, said he’ll use the holiday windfall to pay debts but won’t alter his agricultural life style.

He has two sons, David, 18, and Robin, 17. The younger son was at the resort with him when he hit the big payoff.

The jackpot, $1,280,901, was the sixth time since 1963 the bank of machines has paid out more than $1 million.

Matuk said he visits the Strip resort just about every Christmas “and Thanksgiving, and Easter and New Year’s.” He said he knew his turn was coming at the lucky machine.

Matuk said he invested $400 and four hours of his time before lining up four 7s.

“I felt if you have faith, it’ll hit,” he said.