It was mum, not Jennifer Lopez (pictured) who scooped a fortune

Guadalupe Lopez, 58, placed a bet worth $3 (�1.60) on the Wheel Of Fortune machine - and struck lucky.

The jackpot was a record pay-out for the well-heeled Borgata resort, which has been open since the summer.

Reports in the US suggest that Lopez is going to put some of the winnings into a college fund for her grandchildren.

The chart-topping singer ranks as one of the richest and most powerful celebrities in showbusiness.

US magazine Forbes ranked Lopez at number five in their influential "power list" of 2003, with earnings of $29m (�15.8m) during the previous year.

She has stealthily made progress up the ranks, being listed at 12 on 2002's list and 34 in the previous year.

But her film career recently faced crisis when Gigli was panned by critics and swept the boards at the Razzies - the awards given out for the worst films and performances.

And her relationship with actor Ben Affleck - her co-star in Gigli - was finally called off in January.