One Lacombe woman had a pleasant surprise earlier this month while visiting Red Deer’s Jackpot Casino.
Peggy-Sue Stuckky had a run of luck while on a lunch date with her friend Diane Fischer. Fischer went to leave the casino, but not before handing Stuckky a $20 bill and stating, “To have fun” and if she happened to win anything they would split it.
Neither could’ve imagined what would happen after Fischer left, when Stuckky played out the gift and struck gold, winning $1.22 million on the Diamond Millions Alberta Provincial Progressive slot machine.
Stuckky said she was in shock as the bells and whistles of the machine went off, informing her she had won the largest pay out off of a slot machine in Red Deer’s history.
She has stuck to the pair’s agreement and will be splitting the winnings with Fischer, each walking away with $610,012.
Stuckky told the media at a press conference held in Red Deer last week she will be spending her winnings on post-secondary education for her children, a down payment on a house for her brother, and she will also pay some bills, perhaps get some dental work done and with the left over money she hopes to buy herself a bottle of Chanel no. 5 perfume.
“We had been worried about bills and busting our humps to help our kids out with school. I was debating getting a second job to help them out, so this money for me means I can relax a little and continue substitute teaching at Terrace Ridge Elementary School, continue my volunteer work and continue to plan crafting retreats with Diane,” said Stuckky.
When asked if she feels any different after winning the money Stuckky said, “I feel like maybe a smidge of what Oprah might feel like. The tension and worries are all gone and I am ecstatic.”
Fischer, a resident of Raymond Shores on Gull Lake, will be putting a portion of her winnings towards the new home her and her husband recently purchased but is unsure on what else she will buy.
“We have two kids and four grandkids, they couldn’t be more excited about it and we hope to put away for our grandkids’ education as well,” said Fischer.
The two agreed they rarely visit the casino but couldn’t be happier they chose to go that day for a ‘quick bite to eat.’