A Valley View Casino & Hotel team member, John Cuevas, won $52,511 while competing on the iconic gameshow ‘Jeopardy!’ John works on swing shift in the slot department at Valley View.
John first appeared on the show on Wednesday, January 22, winning $29,001 and becoming the new ‘Jeopardy!’ champion. He then went on to the next night where he kept his champion title, winning another $23,510.
On John’s first night on the show, he took the title of champion from Dennis Coffey, a bartender from Maine. He also achieved victory against a youth substance use prevention worker, a business manager, and an attorney over the course of his two wins.
John applied for the show months ago through an online test. He was then called to do an audition in Los Angeles, which includes a second written test and a mock ‘Jeopardy!’ game. He was then added to the contestant pool and was called five months later to appear on the show.
“Appearing on Jeopardy! was a lifelong dream come true. Winning twice was an experience beyond my wildest dreams,” said John. “I am so thankful to everyone who supported me through this journey, and for the chance to bring awareness to organ donation by wearing a Donate Life pin during my Jeopardy! run.”
“We’re so happy for our teammate John,” says Bruce Howard, General Manager of Valley View Casino & Hotel. “He certainly made himself, his family and everyone at Valley View extremely proud with his three-day championship performance on ‘Jeopardy!’”
John was again in the lead on his third and final appearance on January 24 until the final ‘Jeopardy!’ clue. The clue was from the “Bestselling Authors” category, which asked for the name of an author in her 70s who spends 20 to 22 hours a day writing on an old typewriter. The answer was “Danielle Steel.” John, along with the other two contestants, answered that question incorrectly and John finished in third.
John is the first Valley View Casino & Hotel team member to appear on, and win, ‘Jeopardy!’ Valley View Casino & Hotel held a watch party where guests and team members alike cheered him on from San Diego’s Favorite casino.
Valley View Casino & Hotel is located in Valley Center, just east of Escondido and south of Temecula. For more information, please visit ValleyViewCasino.com. All guests 21 and older are invited to enjoy the casino, hotel and restaurants.