A Revelstoke resident was the one flying high after a quick stop en route to the airport to pick up a friend.
Pat Dillman originally stopped at Chances Casino in Salmon Arm on Thursday, June 13 to get something to eat, but decided to feed the machines first, resulting in a $1.245 million feast from a Powerbucks Cleopatra Grand slot machine. The big winner, however, was prepared to walk away with much less.
"I thought I鈥檇 won 410 bucks. The girl came over and I said just give me my $410, I鈥檓 going to the restaurant to eat. And she said 鈥榊ou鈥檙e not going anywhere for awhile, you鈥檝e got the big one鈥�,鈥� Dillman said, with the final number actually $1,245,154.16.
The lesser number she'd seen was apparently just the portion the casino had to pay out, while the bulk of it comes BC Lottery Corporation.
Dillman went to the Kamloops BCLC office Tuesday afternoon to process her win, while still trying to process it mentally.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting, but... it hasn鈥檛 hit me yet,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was cool and calm as a cucumber in the casino, other people were just about fainting around me. I even had a marriage proposal!鈥�
Dillman explained that a guy came over, high-fived her and asked if she was married.
鈥淚 said no, I鈥檓 a widow and he said 鈥榃ell I鈥檓 a widower, let鈥檚 go on a date鈥�. I said no thanks... so he laughed.鈥�
Despite the overwhelming amount of her win, which she said "is definitely life-changing," Dillman has very practical plans for her windfall. She鈥檚 been trying to sell her house in Revelstoke and buy in Salmon Arm to 鈥渞etire and get away from the snow,鈥� which gives her more flexibility to pursue.
She鈥檚 also looking into taking a trip to Mexico with her three daughters but will put the money in the bank for now and give herself time to think and process the win.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to do anything rash,鈥� Dillman said, adding that she hopes this won鈥檛 bring out potential scammers.
鈥淏ut I hear a lot of people are scared of me, so I鈥檓 not really worried. I survived three teenagers so I鈥檓 not scared of nothing,鈥� she laughed.
