NANAIMO — A Snuneymuxw First Nation councillor is thanking her lucky stars today, as a $5.25 wager on a slot machine turned into a $2.1 million payday.
Erralyn Joseph was out with her husband Joseph on Wednesday, Feb. 23, when they decided to pop in to the Casino Nanaimo for a quick spin on the slots.
“We usually have our own lucky machines we like to play, and it was closest to the door because we were about to leave and head home to the babies” Jospeh said. “Then three spins later we get the bonus and there’s the jackpot.”
Joseph played the Wheel of Fortune Exotic Far East Powerbucks progressive slot machine, where a progressive jackpot starts at $1 million and grows are players place bets at participating casinos across Canada.
“I was going to play Plinko, but on the other side of the floor I saw the Powerbucks slot machine. I was going to be one of my last plays of the night.”
It was on her third spin where Joseph saw she had triggered the bonus as all the arrows started to line up.
“It all happened so fast, and the machine was going off saying $2.1 million. My husband and I were shocked and stunned. Once we realized how much we had won, I screamed. I don’t think we were on Earth at that time, we were just sort of floating in the air.”
She said it took her some time to realize exactly how much she had won.
“We actually thought it was $6.50 the first arrow, and we’re like ‘ok, we won six bucks let’s go to the next game.’ Then it kept going and going and a little square came up that said we had won three jackpots…then the screen popped up and it said $2.1 million, and we were shocked, we were floored.”
Joseph said she plans on using her winnings to buy an RV, buy her husband a boat, and take all of her 27 family members on a vacation.
Joseph is the owner of Beefeater’s Chop House & Grill in Nanaimo, and said they are looking at how they can pay it forward to the community. Both she and her husband play lacrosse and said they plan on supporting them in some way.
Joseph did have a few tips for anybody who wants to win it big at a slot machine.
“Take your husband’s ticket. I was out of money so I took his ticket, I cashed it out and took it to another machine. So take your husband’s ticket.”
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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow
