Most slot players dream of winning a massive jackpot and that scenario played out last week at the Living Sky Casino, located in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. A player named J.G. Lundy, of Medicine Hat, Alberta, cashed in big on the Smoke Signals progressive jackpot on April 6 for more than $1.4 million.
The property is one of seven casinos owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA). Smoke Signals is a SIGA-wide progressive jackpot linking 51 slots at all of the group’s casinos. Lundy’s Win becomes just the latest in this First Nations slot gaming success story.
“We are excited for our newest SIGA Casinos Smoke Signals winner,” said SIGA President and CEO Zane Hansen. “Congratulations on all your winnings!”
What is the SIGA Jackpot Game?
The hefty win is just the latest for this gaming group. The Smoke Signals progressive features three mystery jackpot tiers that grow as players continue playing. A small portion of each spin is added to the progressive prize pool.
While there are smaller jackpots, a massive payout is occasionally triggered – rewarding a lucky player with a life-changing sum, as the latest winner would surely agree.
The largest jackpot pays out a minimum of $1 million, which Lundy grabbed. Previous payouts have even reached more than $2 million. Living Sky Casino is located about 245 kilometers west of Regina, Saskatchewan.
The continued jackpots on a smaller progressive network compared to much larger gaming jurisdictions seems like a nice success story for the First Nations group. According to Saskatchewan Today, Smoke Signals has rewarded players with more than $58 million in jackpot winnings to date.
“It is always great to see a Smoke Signals win in southern Saskatchewan,” SIGA regional general manager Trevor Marion said. “We are excited for J.G. Lundy to be taking home his cheque today of over $1.4 million!”
The jackpot win means the highest payout was reset back to $1 million and can be rewarded again at any time. Another player triggered the ultimate jackpot in March 2022 at SIGA’s Gold Eagle Casino. Gary Mann, of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, chalked up a win of more than $1.3 million.
More Recent Canadian Slot Jackpot Winners
These aren’t the only players in Canada to cash in for some major jackpots in recent months. In January, a player at Casino de Montreal racked up the largest table game jackpot in the property’s history.
Claude Martin, of Lanaudiere, Quebec, and his wife planned to check out a concert on the night of Jan. 20. Before the show, they decided to grab a bite to eat at the property’s seafood restaurant and then hit the casino a bit.
While playing some Three Card Poker, Martin hit the hand of all hands – a royal flush. This triggered progressive jackpot, which paid out $3.1 million. The construction worker in his early 60s had no plans to leave his job behind. He did plan on buying a new set of wheels, however, mentioning he’d be purchasing his “dream car.”
Casino Montreal is one of four casinos owned by Loto-Quebec. The progressive jackpot is built from play on all Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables, with minimum wagers of $25 and $20 respectively. To be eligible for progressive jackpot, a player must place a separate $5 side bet.
In March, another Canadian hit it big while playing Ultimate Texas Hold’em, this time in Las Vegas. Curtis Rodgers, of British Columbia, cashed in on the mega jackpot for $363,128 at Harrah’s on the Strip. The achievement came on during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday and the luck of the Irish was certainly with Rodgers.
Help us congratulate Curtis R. on his BIG $363,128 hit on Ultimate Texas Hold 'em this morning! All the #StPatricksDay luck right here in the #HeartofTheStrip ?? ??
+21 Gambling Problem? Call 800-522-4700 pic.twitter.com/0jvuxsCEs6
— Harrah's Las Vegas (@HarrahsVegas) March 18, 2023
If these payouts weren’t enough, another Canadian hit the jackpot in December. At Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, Minnesota, a grandfather from Winnipeg, Manitoba, hit a massive payout on a Dancing Drums Explosion slot game.
Cornell Mclean Sr. took home $1.4 million after seeing the reels line up just right on only his second spin. He’d been visiting the property with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. The group was in need of a getaway and had traveled from WInnipeg, but considered turning back home after seeing a delay of an hour at the border.
They decided to continue on with the 200-mile trip – quite a fortuitous choice. Mclean planned to use some of the money for a new house as well as sharing some with siblings, the couple’s five children, and 16 grandchildren. Beyond that, they weren’t planning many changes.
“We’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Mclean told Valley News Live. “This won’t change how we live.”
