Imagine playing an online lottery game and winning its secondary prize, but not realizing of your new riches for three days!
That's what Tamra Howren experienced recently after winning $410,000 on PlayNow.com, the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) explained in a release today (Aug. 11).
The Port Coquitlam woman has spent the last several months working as a technician near Salmon Arm and decided to take a shot at playing Cleopatra MegaJackpots before going to an area out of cell service for two days.
She received a call informing her of the big cheque on the third day of her remote work and is now planning a month-long trip to Australia, in addition to paying down her mortgage.
“I remember almost not taking the call because I thought it was a scammer,” Howren said in recounting the surprising moment.
“But then it was BCLC’s Customer Support on the phone, and they were telling me congratulations. I was just like… ‘what?’ [...] I remember being behind the wheel and having to pull over to the side of the road. I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t. My heart has been jumping out of my chest ever since!”
Howren said a notification had popped up on her screen after she finished playing the online game, but "didn’t think much of it."
"It’s crazy that I worked for two more days and didn’t even know I had won.”
The $410,000 was the runner-up prize for Cleopatra MegaJackpots Howren played.
For more information about the game and others like it, you're encouraged to visit PlayNow.com.