“Nothing Could Take the Smile off of my Face!”: Nanaimo Resident Wins $213K ‘Jack Up The Jackpot’ Grand Prize Draw

Gregory Seward was smiling ear to ear after discovering he won the grand prize draw of $213,639.30 after participating in BCLC’s Jack Up The Jackpot contest at Casino Nanaimo.

The Nanaimo resident was at home with his daughter when he received a call from BCLC notifying him that his name had been drawn on April 3, 2025, as the contest’s grand prize winner.

“I couldn’t believe it, I just couldn’t. I was so shocked,” Seward recalled of the moment he found out about his win.

His daughter, who was with him at the time, was also in disbelief.

“She was floored and said that she needed to pinch herself,” said Seward.

Seward, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, couldn’t wait to share the good news with fellow members from the Snuneymuxw community.

“Everyone was so excited for me!”

Next up for Seward is purchasing a new Yukon SUV with his prize, and then taking his grandkids on a road trip to Disneyland. 

On how it feels to win a prize of this amount?

“I’m still in awe. I’m someone who really enjoys life and this win just made everything even better!”

From February 18-March 31, 2025, BCLC Encore Rewards members had the chance to Jack Up The Jackpot by participating in prize draw visits at B.C. casinos, contributing to the final Grand Prize jackpot that Seward won. Players earned between one and five entries into the grand prize draw per visit, depending on their Encore Rewards membership level.