It’s not every day you turn 69 and go out for a drink and then come home later with an extra $25,000 to add to the celebrations.
But for Alma and Allan, that’s just what happened.
The couple lives south of Lloydminster, and Allan was celebrating his birthday, so they stopped at Original Joe’s, better known as OJ’s, for a birthday drink before heading to the casino.
To mark it’s 25th anniversary, OJ’s was giving away a $25,000 grand prize and three $5,000 travel vouchers. All you had to do was share your best OJ’s memory and stories to be entered into the draw to win.
“I never enter these contests because I always think, ‘No one ever actually wins these things.’ But we did,” said Allan.
The couple sent in their story and about three weeks went by before they got an email.
“I was at the dentist,” said Alma. “When I got home Allan said, ‘I think you won $25,000,’ and I said, ‘I think it’s a scam.'”
After calling OJ’s Lloydminster and getting more confirmation from head office, Allan and Alma realized the win was real.
The couple will taking the festivities to Mexico with friends later this year, and sharing their winnings with their family. The rest of the money will go towards fixing their acreage’s sewer system.
“I did win a bit at the casino that night,” said Allan, “But it turns out the big win was going to OJ’s.”