Sequim woman hits million-dollar jackpot at 7 Cedars; casino’s first ever

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, October 26, 2011

BLYN — Jaimie Giffen spent $20 to win more than $1 million Sunday night at 7 Cedars Casino.

A Sequim resident for four years who works as a property manager, Giffen won $1,034,786.36 playing the Rocky Mountain Gold video electronic penny slot machine.

Jerry Allen, CEO of 7 Cedars, that it was the first million-dollar jackpot hit at 7 Cedars Casino, which is at 270756 U.S. Highway 101 east of Sequim.

After Giffen attended a party at the casino, she and her sister ventured over to the slots, she said Tuesday in a phone interview.

Her sister, who asked not to be identified, was sitting next to her at the time Giffen struck big money.

“After the party, we went out to gamble a little bit,” Giffen said Tuesday.

“All of a sudden, the machine just hit.

“Normally, when we go to the casino, we just go in for entertainment,” she added.

“We never go in to win a lot.”

She will use her winnings to would pay off her home, her sister’s home and help others in her family.

The most she had won before was $1,000, Giffen said.

“I’m really, really excited,” she said.

Rocket Gaming validated the claim to the Gold Series top progressive prize at 5:33 p.m. Sunday.

“It just took awhile to verify it was indeed a jackpot,” she said.

She won on a $2.50 spin.

“We couldn’t be happier for Ms. Giffen,” Allen said.

“To have a million-dollar winner at our casino is thrilling for our entire organization.”

Giffen said she is not retiring from gambling.

“I’ll still go to 7 Cedars,” said Giffen.

“If it happens again, awesome.”

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.