Biggest racino jackpot winner so far from Cortland

AUSTINTOWN

A jackpot winner of $20,000 highlighted the second day of operations at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

Joseph Mastello, of Cortland, won the highest jackpot awarded at the facility so far. Mastello playing on a $25 Double Strike video lottery terminal at 1:42 p.m. Thursday.

After $800 in taxes, he walked away with $19,200, said Madeline Caldwell, spokesperson for Hollywood Gaming.

Overall, Hollywood Gaming had $85,000 in winnings for patrons from 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday.

The racino had $30,000 in jackpot winnings only 4.5 hours into opening Wednesday and at one point, 849 of the 850 VLTs were being played. That last VLT was tied up in a jackpot, Caldwell said Wednesday.

Attendance figures were not known for the first day, but Hollywood Gaming officials were hoping for 5,000 Mahoning Valley patrons for Wednesday’s grand opening. The facility remains open round the clock.