Q&A: Allen Kessler Hits $1.2M Buffalo Slots Jackpot

Allen Kessler wasn’t bluffing when he claimed to be in an unusually good mood earlier this week. (Image: X/AllenKessler)

Allen Kessler might’ve been a little on tilt. The Las Vegas poker pro known as “the Chainsaw'' was attending the RunGood poker series at Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, California (outside of Sacramento), but was too late to enter the $400 HEROS Ring event. 

“I was so aggravated I was shut out,” he told a group of a couple hundred on an X Spaces chat in the early AM hours Wednesday. “I thought I could late-register until the first break, but it was only until the first level.” 

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He accepted his refund, grumbled to the internet about Thunder Valley’s late registration times, and went to play slots on the same Buffalo Power Pay machine that he played the previous night until 6 am. 

The aggravation turned out to be a + EV blessing in disguise when 12 hours later Kessler, wearing his “Keep Calm” with clip-art of a chainsaw T-shirt, booked his largest gambling win ever – $1.2 million.

Kessler is a poker journeyman with more than $4.4 million in tournament winnings and 20 first place finishes. He has no World Series of Poker bracelets, but does have seven WSOP final tables, four WSOP Circuit rings, and is one of only 8 players with more than 200 WSOP cashes. 

He spoke with Casinos.com about the win, his fondness for Buffalo Power Pay slots, and how getting paid for such a big jackpot works. 

(Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.)

So what were you playing, and which jackpot did you hit?

It was an Aristocrat Buffalo machine called Power Pay. If you get three wheel coins then you spin a wheel for free games or a $5,000 payout or the huge Power Grand jackpot that starts at $1 million. 

What is it about Buffalo that makes it appealing? 

I just love all the Aristocrat Buffalo games. The sound effects, the bonuses ... I play lots of them. I was playing this machine for around 12 hours.

What stakes were you playing?

I was betting $125 a spin. This is way more than I usually bet! I played for three more hours after I hit the million. 

Really?

Yeah, I had built up a few of the smaller jackpots significantly and wanted to try and hit one of those. I was annoyed that I didn't hit anything I was chasing. So frustrating.

Was this your biggest gambling win ever?

Yes by far. My next biggest score was around 275k in a 10k stud 8 wsop event.

[Note: Kessler won $276,485 for a second-place finish in the $10,000 7-card stud Hi/Lo event at the 2010 WSOP.]

How did you get paid?

The casino only gave me $4. That’s what the base spin won. The wheel spin won the jackpot. So the casino owes $4, Aristocrat pays the rest. I was given two options: $60k for 20 years, or a lump sum of $805k.

Did you take the lump sum?

I took the lump sum.

Who’d you tip and how much?

I’m not going to say the amount. But I was still playing 1½ or 2 hours later when one of the attendants came up to me to say thanks and that it meant a lot. 

Any special plans for the money?

Not really. I'll just keep plugging along. 

You're a poker pro who understands bankroll management and house edges ... how does high-stakes slots play square with these concepts?

I like to relax and play slots after poker. It's a release for me and I can afford it. Also the casino gives you free play, rooms and food, which offsets the edge a little.

But overall, with this win, you’re up in slots now?

Probably, but I’ve been playing ever since I can remember.