More than a week after becoming a millionaire, a Newcastle man has come forward to claim his Keno win worth over $1.3 million after confessing he’d been too busy at work to check his ticket.
The stoked New South Wales patron held a Keno Classic 10 Spot winning entry in game 204 played on Friday 18 September 2020 and takes home a prize worth $1,350,219.90.
Sharing his disbelief with a Keno official this morning, the newly-minted millionaire recounted the reason he had been completely oblivious to his win.
“I couldn’t believe it! I can’t believe it still!” he exclaimed.
“I’d seen some people I’d been down at the club with, and they’d heard that someone had won the night we were there.
“They kept telling me it could be me, but I just kept thinking ‘Nah, it can’t be me’.
“It was a really busy week last week with work and with one thing or another, so I didn’t get a chance to check my entry.
“I woke up early on Saturday morning, and that’s when I started thinking it might be real. I might be the winner.
“So I went straight down there first thing and spoke to the manager. That’s when he confirmed I was the winner. I couldn’t believe it!”
The happy man also revealed it was the second time he’d won a major prize using the same numbers.
“I always use the same numbers when I play Keno. I play whenever I’m down at the club,” he explained.
“The numbers are just a few birthdays and special numbers. Things like that.
“I’ve always used them, and about 10 years ago, I won nine out of 10 numbers.
“I was just one number away from winning the 10 Spot.
“That’s why I always stuck with the same numbers. I’ve been hoping they’d come good for me again and now they have!”
When asked how he planned to enjoy his life as a millionaire, the thrilled player said he was looking forward to relaxing after buying his first home.
“I’ve been thinking for a while I need to buy a place of my own,” he declared.
“I’ll buy something where I can just sit and relax.
“I’d be keen to go on a holiday when I can too. Maybe overseas or maybe just up to the Whitsundays in Queensland.
“I still can’t believe I’ve won so I’ll have to let it sink in a bit first!”
The winning Keno Classic 10 Spot winning entry was purchased at Wests City Newcastle, 30 King Street, Newcastle West.
Between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020, Keno players across the eastern states of mainland Australia celebrated more than 58.4 million wins collectively worth more than $776.79 million.
During this time, Keno crowned 17 millionaires and multi-millionaires who collectively took home more than $38.72 million. Ten of these major winners were from New South Wales and the ACT, including a Newcastle woman who was stunned to pocket a Keno Mega Millions 10 Spot prize of more than $5.4 million.
Players in New South Wales and the ACT enjoyed more than 26.69 million Keno wins totalling more than $386.39 million in the 12 months to 30 June 2020.
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.