Montreal Player Triggers $3 Million Jackpot

A lucky Montreal gambler won more than CA$3 million (US$2.24 million) after he was dealt a royal flush in spades that triggered the game’s progressive jackpot at Casino de Montreal. The progressive jackpot Claude Martin, a construction worker in his sixties, won the largest table game payout in Casino de Montreal’s history.

Played Poker to Kill Time before a Concert

Martin visited the casino, the biggest in Canada, on 20 January 2023. Casino de Montreal boasts more than 3,200 slot machines and 115 gaming tables. But the lucky man didn’t intend to play any of them.

Interestingly, Martin could have very easily missed out on the massive jackpot, as he is said to have come to the casino to attend a concert and wasn’t planning to gamble at all. 

However, because he had some time to kill and the concert hadn’t started yet, he sat down to play a game of 3 Card Poker. He only played a few hands before he got a royal flush in spades which activated the CA$3,056,175 progressive jackpot.

Even though Martin and his wife were early for the Roch Voisine concert, because of all the excitement, they couldn’t attend it. So, Martin’s wife promised him that she would take him to another show where the Canadian singer will perform.

With the money he won, Martin said he wanted to buy the “car of his dreams” and purchase a lakeside cottage. He won’t make any drastic lifestyle changes, though, and told casino officials he didn’t plan to quit his job.

Loto Quebec Offers the Jackpot in Its Other Casinos Too

Casino de Montreal opened in 1993 and is operated by Loto-Quebec.  The progressive jackpot that the lucky construction worker won is offered Loto-Quebec’s other casinos too – Casino de Charlevoix, Casino du Lac-Leamy, and Casino de Mont-Tremblant.

Players can win the jackpot in two poker games: 3 Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. To become eligible for it, a player must place a $5 side bet in addition to their main-game wager. The minimum main-game bet on 3 Card Poker is $25. To play Ultimate Texas Hold’em, you need to stake a minimum of $20. Players only win the jackpot if they get a royal flush and place a $5 stake on the side bet as Martin did.