Georgia woman hits jackpot at Gulf Coast casino

BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI - Two Mississippi Gulf Coast slot machines have recently paid off eye-popping amounts of money. <br> <br> On Monday morning, Celeste McCormick of Albany won $1.1 million on a $5 Wheel of Fortune machine at Imperial Palace. She put $100 in the winning machine, but decided to spin one more time. <br> <br> ``I had been lucky at the casino so I decided to play for the big money,&#39;&#39; McCormick said. <br> <br> McCormick said she plans to invest her winnings.<br> <br> Barbara Jane Thornburg of Arlington, Tenn., won $9.9 million playing a progressive $1 Wheel of Fortune machine at Beau Rivage last Friday. That jackpot is one of the biggest in Mississippi history. <br> <br> The winning machine was Thornburg&#39;s third choice. <br> <br> She won $250 on one machine and while waiting for attendants to fill the coin hopper she decided to play the machine to her right. That one wasn&#39;t working, so Thornburg played the machine on her left and hit the jackpot. <br> <br> ``This is surreal,&#39;&#39; Thornburg said. ``I only put about $12 in it before it hit. I just can&#39;t believe it.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Thornburg, who owns a plumbing company, said she plans to use the money to pay off some bills and help the homeless in Memphis.