Shakopee woman wins $4,500 playing "21 Cards" televised game show at Mystic Lake

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. – Shelly Brinkhaus' next trip to Las Vegas is paid for thanks to her big win on the game show "21 Cards" at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel.

The Shakopee resident was called onto the Mystic Showroom stage during "21 Cards" taping in August, and her episode will air on The CW Twin Cities at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. 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.

By the time Brinkaus cashed out, she had won $4,500.

"I get nervous in front of crowds," Brinkhaus said. "Had I thought about my odds, I probably would've gone further."

Brinkhaus attended the show with a crowd – eight friends decided if one of them got on stage, they would split the winnings. Brinkhaus held true to her word, divvying up the cash among her friends with enough left over to pay for her annual vacation to Las Vegas in October.

Brinkhaus' friends helped her make decisions while she was on stage, but in hindsight she wished she would have pressed on in attempt to make even more money, considering her odds. On-stage contestants can win up to $15,000.

Still, the game-show loving Brinkhaus called the experience "really fun" and was ecstatic for the opportunity to play.

"I thought it would be fun to do a game show," Brinkhaus said. "I never figured I'd be on one."

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