We can’t stop talking about the 3 slot machine jackpots NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin hit over the weekend in Las Vegas, and apparently, neither can he.
The 44-year-old shared details about his gambling wins on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast. He explained how he used AI to guide him.
"First, I asked ChatGPT if winning on one Buffalo machine affects my odds on another. It said no; each game is independent. "So I thought, 'Great, I'll try again.' I went to a different machine, put in a quarter, and won a car each time. Every 5-10 minutes, I won something new. It was a lot of fun," he said.
NASCAR writer Kyle Dalton posted the clip on his X account.
Hamlin added that he started with $11,000 but quickly began winning and didn't need to use it all. However, he admitted he probably should have stayed on the slot machine because he wasn't as lucky at the blackjack table.
Denny Hamlin Casino Jackpot(s) Adventure
On Friday night, while in Las Vegas for the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400, Hamlin won $126,150 from a single spin on a slot machine. A camera captured the 44-year-old driver's excitement at a Buffalo slot machine.
His initial $300 bet grew by 420 times, giving him his first big win of the night. He posted the video on his Instagram account.
Originally from Chesterfield, Virginia, Hamlin chose to keep playing, ignoring the saying to quit while ahead.
Even he looks astonished. No one could believe his luck, but the story gets even better.
Hamlin's String of Big Wins Was Just Beginning
By Saturday night, Hamlin's good fortune continued. He tested Chat GPT's advice and continued playing. To say it paid off would be an understatement. He won another $85,825 and posted a picture of the winning machine on social media, writing "Show goes on" in the post's description.
But Hamlin's exciting night was far from over. About 30 minutes later, he hit another jackpot, this time for $65,300, and shared that photo online, writing in the post's description that he was "embarrassed." It sounds like Chat GPT was right.
The video also shows him raising his hands in disbelief, reminiscent of Michael Jordan's iconic "shrug" during Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. In that game, Jordan sparked a 57-23 run and led the Bulls to victory by hitting a then-record six 3-pointers in the first half.
Hamlin's night was kinda like that, and all he could do was shrug.
Hamlin's Luck Did Not Transfer To The Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Unfortunately for Hamlin, his luck did not carry over to Sunday's race.
Driving the No. 11 Toyota, Hamlin got an early-race speeding penalty, which sent him to the back. Despite this setback and finishing 25th, Hamlin defended NASCAR’s penalty system. He also explained how the timing procedure works on his podcast, saying, “NASCAR uses timing between segments, not radar guns, to check if you’re speeding. It’s purely time-based. If you’re too fast in a section, it shows in red.”
Hamlin also discussed how the 1.5-mile oval track in Las Vegas, with its 20-degree banked corners and 9-12 degree front and back stretches, affects pit road penalties. He noted that drivers often speed up in corners to make up for time lost entering the straightaway at the pits, which is likely why Busch got penalized.
He argued NASCAR shouldn’t overreact with another rule tweak. “I wouldn’t mess with it. Let’s not create another rule in the middle of the season. I feel like we update our rules every week,” he said.
