Waconia woman wins $3,000 playing "21 Cards" televised game show at Mystic Lake

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. – Jami Freese is a huge fan of the Game Show Network. Now she'll be a star of Minnesota's newest game show.

The Waconia resident won $3,000 playing the game show "21 Cards" at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. Show contestants chose from 21 numbered cards to reveal a joker, which ended the game, or a cash value, which allowed contestants to continue playing and increase their winnings, or cash out at their current total. Freese took home the huge cash prize during show taping in August, and her episode will air on The CW Twin Cities at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 3.

"I was the very first name called in that session," Freese said. "It was crazy. I couldn't believe I got called."

Freese said the whole thing was a blur due to the excitement of being called, the frenzied behind-the-scenes activities and the enthusiastic crowd. Then she had to make big decisions on the fly with the help of her group of friends.

The higher the prize money got, the tougher the choice became.
"I've never won that kind of money before in my life," Freese said. "I kept thinking that I could do a lot with this money."

Freese turned over a $1,000 card with $2,000 already in the bank and decided that was enough money to cash out. Freese said she’s been too busy to attempt to spend the prize money, but has plenty of household projects lined up for the funds.

"21 Cards" airs Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 12:30 a.m. on The CW Twin Cities.