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Recent news reports confirm that a Canadian woman has scooped the largest slots jackpot ever paid out in the country. Prince George, B.C. resident Marylene Dumoulin had a life-changing moment when she picked up an astonishing prize of $2.1 million.
What does this feel-good story tell us about the shape of the casino industry here?
"Fallsview Casino - 365 13-5-2011" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Suzanne Schroeter
The Story Behind a Massive Win
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this win is that Marylene achieved it on a $3 bet. She had gone to the Treasure Cove Casino in Prince George together with her husband and decided to aim for the progressive jackpot on the Powerbucks slot.
Her initial reaction was to think that she had won $2,100. However, her husband realized that the prize was actually a lot greater than that. She said that she then couldn’t eat or sleep for two days, while the scale of her good fortune started to sink in.
The lucky winner even appeared at the news conference to announce the jackpot with bandages on her fingers. This was due to her nervously chewing on her fingernails so much after her huge win. The couple say that they now plan to do some travelling in their motorhome.
The Continuing Success of Casinos in Canada
This story helps to give us an idea of why casinos are now so popular all across the country. There are now more than 100 land-based casinos in Canada that offer a big variety of slot machines as well as classic table games.
The chance to win a massive jackpot like the one recently claimed in Prince George is certainly a powerful reason that people keep coming back to these casinos. We all love to read these feel-good stories and imagine what we would if we won so much money by spinning some reels.
Yet, it is also the case that a lot of people simply see this as a way of having an enjoyable evening out. The bigger casinos in the country have restaurants, live shows, and shopping areas in them, while others are set in highly attractive areas and offer terrific views.
"Royal Flush at Casino" (CC BY 2.0) by Images_of_Money
The Move to Online Casinos
An interesting feature of the casino industry in Canada is the way that online sites have now claimed a huge stake of the market. This means that it is no longer necessary to even go outside to try these games. So, which online gaming sites can you use without any fear?
If we look at the top 9 providers at BestCanadaCasino.ca, we can see trusted names such as Bob Casino, Betchan, and Spin Casino. This site shows the rating for each casino listed, with Bob Casino leading the way at 96% at the time of writing.
These casinos offer a convenient alternative to going out to a land-based casino. They have a similar range of games, typically covering slots and a variety of table games like roulette and blackjack. Progressive jackpots similar to the one mentioned earlier can also be won online.
A key factor that encourages new players to join online casinos is the selection of bonuses and offers available. These often give a top-up on the first deposit made by a new member, or can award a series of free spins.
It seems clear that newsworthy jackpot wins like this one will help to increase the popularity of casinos in the country even more. The flexibility of being able to play online or in a land-based casino helps to add to the attraction for a whole range of different players.
