Click photo to enlarge
Dunedin Casino gaming manager Marc Yeoman reveals the royal
flush which won a Dunedin grandmother these chips, worth
$212,737. Photo by Jane Dawber.
For the second time in her life, a Dunedin grandmother
has defied odds of 650,000 to one to win the largest payout
from Dunedin Casino.
Moments before the start of the Melbourne Cup, the
semi-retired woman discovered she had won $212,737, after
being dealt a royal flush - a straight of cards from the same
suit from 10 through to ace.
"Nobody was able to watch the cup as the true action was on
the Caribbean stud poker table," gaming manager Marc Yeoman
said.
Casino staff said the woman, who was the only player at the
table, thought she had been dealt a flush - which would have
given her $100.
Instead the woman was told she had been dealt a royal flush
all from the same diamond suit, and had scooped the jackpot -
the largest payout in the casino's history.
Despite odds of more than 650,000 to one for the hand, it was
the second time the woman had won the jackpot.
In February 2003, she won $110,752 after being dealt a royal
flush of the hearts suit.
Shaken after her big win, the woman immediately requested a
telephone to call her husband.
Casino manager Nick Winder said the winnings were paid out
with $1000 chips and "it is a big moment when we have those
in front of you".
Leaving with a cheque, the woman plans to use some of the
proceeds to take her family on an overseas holiday.
"She is absolutely ecstatic," he said.
