A Wyong woman was left in sheer disbelief after discovering her regular Keno numbers scored her a $78,000 win, leading to a joyful celebration with family and pizzas.
The New South Wales player held a winning Keno Classic 8 Spot entry in draw 106 on Wednesday 17 April 2024. Her total prize was $78,666.70.
The gleeful woman relayed how the win came to be when an official from Keno reached out.
“I was at the hotel with Mum, and I put on my usual numbers,” she said.
“I’ve played the same numbers for the last two years. I use my nan’s birthday and some other special dates.
“It’s funny, on the night I won, I was checking my ticket and one of the workers said someone had won the major jackpot. I just thought ‘Not me! I’m too unlucky to win that one.’.
“Then he said, ‘Congratulations! It was you!’.
“Let me tell you, my jaw dropped!
“I ran to tell Mum. She didn’t believe me at first.
“After that, we went home and celebrated with the whole family with beers and pizza.
“Everyone’s so excited. It’s going to be a massive help.
“One thing I want to do is buy a new car, and I’ll also be able to pay off my phone.”
Her winning entry was purchased at Dam Hotel, Cnr Minnesota Road & Pacific Hwy, Wyong.
Dam Hotel licensee James Coombe said the big Keno win marked a milestone for his hotel.
“I was shocked, to be honest, when we’d heard we’d sold a big Keno winning entry. It’s the biggest jackpot we’ve had here to date. The last big win was a few months ago when we had a $10,000 winner.
“Everyone was ecstatic, and everyone in the bar congratulated her on the win.
“Congratulations and it couldn’t have gone to a more deserving local. Let’s hope we have many more to come.”
In 2023, Keno players across the eastern states of mainland Australia celebrated more than 67.31 million wins collectively worth more than $1 billion.
During this time, Keno crowned 21 millionaires and multi-millionaires who collectively took home more than $51.5 million. Eleven of these major winners were from New South Wales and the ACT, including a Shelly Beach dad who scored a $5.92 million windfall.
Players in New South Wales and the ACT enjoyed more than 36.33 million Keno wins totalling more than $529.1 million across the region in 2023.
Keno players can also enter into the monthly second chance draw for the chance to win one of five $1,000 prizes by scanning their ticket at win.secondchance.keno.com.au.