A Matraville woman can now enjoy her long-awaited $72,000 Keno 8 Spot windfall after being blissfully unaware that the winning ticket was tucked away in her purse for more than three weeks.
The regular Sydney player scored the Keno Classic 8 Spot win in draw 517 Sunday 19 November 2023 and t home a total prize of $72,846.10.
“It’s excellent news – I’ve really come down to earth now,” she exclaimed when an official from Keno confirmed the winning news.
“I can’t believe I’ve held this ticket in my purse for more than three weeks. I even visited the club on numerous occasions and didn’t realise the mystery winner they were searching for was me!
“Brighton Le Sands RSL club had so many television screens and signs that said they were searching for a mystery winner in a recent Keno draw. I didn’t even know this entire time.
“It wasn’t until I was at another venue nearby on the weekend and I decided to put on a game of Keno. It was then when I realised I had an old ticket sitting in my purse that I needed to still check.
“I thought the machine had broken so I called over the team members to help me. I said to them, ‘I think it’s broken. I need your help!’.
“Two team members told me that I had won something, and I asked, ‘Did I win $5,000?’ and they replied with ‘No!’ and then I asked, ‘$10,000?’ and they said, ‘Higher! Higher! A lot more zeros!’.
“My partner and I were hysterical when we realised.
“You don’t know how good this is.”
The New South Wales woman is ready to start the new year by ticking off some long-term items on her wish list.
“I’ve got to get my fence fixed at home. My car needs attention and I’m well overdue for a little cruise,” she said.
“In 2020, my partner and I had booked a five-week cruise, but it was shortened to one week and two days because the covid outbreak had gotten so bad. We haven’t been anywhere since!
“This prize means we will be able to go on a cruise in the new year and enjoy the holiday we always envisioned.
Their winning Keno entry was purchased at Brighton Le Sands RSL Club, 351 Bay Street, Brighton Le Sands.
In FY23, Keno players across the eastern states of mainland Australia celebrated more than 95.42 million wins collectively worth more than $1.34 billion.