Richard Resener’s head wasn’t the only thing spinning when his wager hit the $348,841.12 jackpot on Jackpot Festival 88 Fortunes™ slots game on BCLC’s PlayNow – so was every single reel on the screen.
“I spun a few times and then I realized that the last two reels continued to spin. I saw the fourth reel match the first three wheels… And then the fifth reel continued to spin until it also matched,” said Resener, who was enjoying lunch at home in Fort Nelson when he won.
Being a new player to the game, Resener says he didn’t know what to make of the game’s fanfare announcing his win.
“My first thought was, ‘Am I playing in Demo Mode?’ And then I thought, ‘Is this really happening?’ I didn’t know that I won the jackpot prize until my screen filled with fireworks and a rapidly climbing dollar amount!””
Still in shock, Resener took a photo of his phone screen and called his mother to tell her about the win.
“She says she heard me say I won $48,000. She said, ‘That’s really good. Congratulations!’ I told her I’d send her a photo of the win and hung up the phone. My mother phoned me back after she received my text and said, ‘Oh, my God! That is not $48,000!’”
His next phone call was to BCLC. According to Resener, he was skeptical about the win for three days until the claim process was complete.
While he plans to celebrate by inviting close family members and colleagues to “a nice dinner where they can order anything on the menu,” Resener says this win represents “opportunity and responsibility.” He intends to use his winnings to help his family, fix up his home and prepare for retirement.
“I really want to build a beautiful garden and greenhouse. I have always wanted to tour our province to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and learn more about the rich history that we all have.”
Describing the impact of the win, Resener says he feels “surprised, emotional and grateful.”
As B.C.’s only legal gambling website, PlayNow.com is the only site whose profits benefit British Columbians through investments in things like healthcare, education and community programs.
Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits as well as the other online tools available to encourage healthy play. For further information, visit GameSense.com.
