'Mama wants a new fridge with an ice maker,' B.C. winner says of plans for prize from online slots game
A B.C. woman has plans to use some of her recent winnings on a way to beat the heat.
Tricia Jerome won more than $525,000 playing an online slots game, and she already knows where some of the money will go.
"Mama wants a new fridge with an ice maker," she said in a news release issued by the B.C. Lottery Corporation Wednesday.
"I feel like a fridge with an ice maker is perfect for this weather. I've been pulling out my ice trays and it's too much space and a hassle."
Jerome lives in Kamloops, where temperatures have climbed into the mid-40s at times this summer.
She said she also plans to buy a new washing machine and a new dryer, and hopes to take a trip this summer to get away from the wildfire smoke at home.
She won the money playing a slots game called Golden Goddess on PlayNow.com. BCLC said she triggered the second progressive jackpot, which accumulates across Canada.
And she didn't even realize it, at first.
"Honestly, I didn't even know that I won," she recalled to BCLC.
"It came up with a black screen saying I had won the secondary jackpot, but I was asking myself, 'What did I win?' and I didn't understand what was going on."
She called BCLC's customer service line, and even after a representative confirmed her half-a-million-dollar jackpot, the news still hasn't really hit her.
"I've been spaced out all week, and I still don't believe it, but at least now I can stop cleaning," she said.
"I've been cleaning all week just to keep myself busy because I still couldn't believe."
The odds of winning depend on the machine or game, according to GameSense.com, but they always favour the house.
"This means that over time, it's more likely than not that you will walk away with less money than when you started," a post on the website says.
It does not address online slot games specifically, but says that in general, each play is independent and unpredictable, meaning playing longer doesn't improve your odds.
There is no way to improve your chances at winning at most slot machines, the website says. Most are games of chance based on random number generation, and while skill may be a factor in games with an arcade-style element, the random number generator usually determines the amounts available and whether you even get to play the game
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.