Canadian dad ready to retire to the beach after shocking lottery win

A Canadian lottery player had his life changed forever during a stop to grab a bite to eat with his friend.

Pierre B of Sicamous, B.C., was left stunned when he scored the $1,657,818.32 jackpot at Lake City Casino Vernon.

Pierre was dining with a friend when he noticed the Powerbucks Whitney Houston slot game on the gaming floor.

He decided to give it a try after previously enjoying his time with the game at a different casino.

“After I ate, I sat at it, and a few minutes later I won,” Pierre shared of the moment he won the progressive slot jackpot.

“I was dumbfounded and thought, ‘This isn’t happening.’ I thought I was going to drop to the floor.” 

BCLC

The first person to find out about his $1.6 million Powerbucks Slot Jackpot was his friend, who was immediately overwhemed by the good news.

“My friend started crying,” explained Pierre. “He couldn’t believe it and his mouth dropped.”

The south central B.C. resident is a recent retiree who has a few ideas on what to do with his windfall.

They include buying his son a new car as well as moving to Vancouver Island in the near future.

Pierre shared that he wanted to “go to the beach and pick shells… slow life down a bit.” 

And when he was asked how it feels to be a millionaire, he had a joyous response.

“I was driving home from Vernon that night and had a happy feeling inside.”

B.C. residents have been lucky in the jackpot lately, with a lottery player scoring a Lotto Max jackpot while watching his favourite hockey team play.

Another resident in the province claimed a $1-million Lotto Max prize from a December draw and is also excited to retire.

All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.