On his first trip ever to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel, Michael Shea of Waxhaw signed up for a Total Rewards card and won a 12-pack of Coca Cola for taking part in the “Winning Will Find You” customer promotion.

Little did Shea know, but his 12-pack had more than Coke in it.

Shea was told to pay close attention to the cans in his 12-pack because if he found a specially marked can inside, he could qualify to win up to $1 million. Just happy to get the free Coke, Shea didn’t think much more about the specially marked can until he got home, and found one.

As one of two Harrah’s Cherokee customers to find the specially marked cans worth $2,500 instantly, Shea was invited back to the casino on July 10 to participate in a live simulcast with players from other Harrah’s casinos across the country for a chance to win between $2,500 and $1 million.

In the satellite simulcast, broadcast from the Harrah’s Showboat in Atlantic City, Shea was “lucky number-13” in the customer drawing. As the winners’ numbers were drawn, Shea couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw number13 come up as the third-prize winner, giving him a prize of $50,000 in cash!

In the current “The Price Is Right” promotion offered at Harrah’s Cherokee, which is fashioned after the popular television game show, customers have a chance to win $1 million in a live Showcase Showdown on Oct. 2 in Las Vegas. Customers also can win other cash and merchandise prizes throughout the promotion, which runs through Sept. 4.