A Winner's Words
On Thursday, 26 January 2012, an Mzuzu-based Policy Analyst who was visiting the capital entered Vision Gaming at the Lilongwe Hotel with just a few thousand kwacha in his pocket and emerged soon afterwards as a multi-millionaire!
Andrew (not his real name) was already an experienced player who first started playing gaming machines many years ago at Pirates in Lilongwe. Since then, he’d tried his luck at several different gaming establishments and was fortunate enough to have notched up a number of encouraging wins. Of course, like any other player, he always aimed to come out ahead but, in his heart, Andrew truly felt that he would one day become a Mega Jackpot winner.
On that evening in January, Andrew arranged to meet a friend in Lilongwe but, realising he had some time to kill before the agreed time, he decided to try his luck at Vision Gaming at the Lilongwe Hotel. He played a couple of machines and won a few thousand. Just when he was planning to walk out and meet his friend, he decided to use K2,000 out of the money he won to play his favourite machine that was now available and, fortunately, he soon regained enough to put all his original stake money safely back in his wallet.
Satisfied that he had broken even, Andrew was about to leave but had a last-minute change of heart and decided to bet just another MK1,000. After hitting the PLAY button only three times, bells started ringing and the other guests playing machines nearby suddenly became very noisy and excited. As a regular player, Andrew had heard these bells before and they generally meant someone had won a small “Copper Pot” so, at first, he wasn't really sure what all the fuss was about. Imagine his astonishment when he saw the winning line flashing on the machine and realised that he’d won the biggest Mega Jackpot so far in Malawi – the life-changing sum of MK8.8 million!
Andrew immediately phoned his wife to tell her the wonderful news and, not surprisingly, it took him a while to convince her that he was serious. Still not quite believing it himself, he called a lawyer friend and insisted that he should come straight to Vision Gaming to confirm what had happened. When he arrived, his friend quickly reassured Andrew that he was still sane and really had won such a fantastic windfall!
Wanting to share his good luck, Andrew gave gifts of money to the staff and other players who were so supportive and enthusiastic when those bells started ringing. With other gifts, of course, he’s made sure that his family and close friends also have something to celebrate.
When asked about his plans for the rest of his big win, Andrew explained that he’s already bought a house in Mzuzu, which is being rented out, and he and his wife hope to buy land to construct one or two other houses in the next few years. In the meantime, they’re thinking about going to either Mauritius or the Seychelles or, possibly, a tour of the famous Masai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Game Reserves to indulge their passion for Africa’s wildlife.
Their first priority, though, is to set aside funds for their son’s education as Andrew and his wife firmly believe that is the key to a successful future.
Andrew says he agrees entirely with DBR International’s advice about only gambling what you can afford to lose. To future Mega Jackpot winners, he strongly recommends investing in bricks and mortar because property in Malawi will increase in value. He also suggests that winners should bank their money in a long-term savings account where it can quietly continue earning interest so they can continue benefitting from their windfall long into the future.
Andrew claims to have “a foot in both camps” as one parent came from the Southern Region and the other from the North. With their help and encouragement, he benefitted from an excellent education, including a Master’s degree from a well-known British university, and now works with a Christian NGO in Lilongwe.
Finally, asked if he still plays the gaming machines, Andrew tells us, “Yes – but purely for amusement. I know lightning never strikes twice in the same spot!”.
Andrew (not his real name) was already an experienced player who first started playing gaming machines many years ago at Pirates in Lilongwe. Since then, he’d tried his luck at several different gaming establishments and was fortunate enough to have notched up a number of encouraging wins. Of course, like any other player, he always aimed to come out ahead but, in his heart, Andrew truly felt that he would one day become a Mega Jackpot winner.
On that evening in January, Andrew arranged to meet a friend in Lilongwe but, realising he had some time to kill before the agreed time, he decided to try his luck at Vision Gaming at the Lilongwe Hotel. He played a couple of machines and won a few thousand. Just when he was planning to walk out and meet his friend, he decided to use K2,000 out of the money he won to play his favourite machine that was now available and, fortunately, he soon regained enough to put all his original stake money safely back in his wallet.
Satisfied that he had broken even, Andrew was about to leave but had a last-minute change of heart and decided to bet just another MK1,000. After hitting the PLAY button only three times, bells started ringing and the other guests playing machines nearby suddenly became very noisy and excited. As a regular player, Andrew had heard these bells before and they generally meant someone had won a small “Copper Pot” so, at first, he wasn't really sure what all the fuss was about. Imagine his astonishment when he saw the winning line flashing on the machine and realised that he’d won the biggest Mega Jackpot so far in Malawi – the life-changing sum of MK8.8 million!
Andrew immediately phoned his wife to tell her the wonderful news and, not surprisingly, it took him a while to convince her that he was serious. Still not quite believing it himself, he called a lawyer friend and insisted that he should come straight to Vision Gaming to confirm what had happened. When he arrived, his friend quickly reassured Andrew that he was still sane and really had won such a fantastic windfall!
Wanting to share his good luck, Andrew gave gifts of money to the staff and other players who were so supportive and enthusiastic when those bells started ringing. With other gifts, of course, he’s made sure that his family and close friends also have something to celebrate.
When asked about his plans for the rest of his big win, Andrew explained that he’s already bought a house in Mzuzu, which is being rented out, and he and his wife hope to buy land to construct one or two other houses in the next few years. In the meantime, they’re thinking about going to either Mauritius or the Seychelles or, possibly, a tour of the famous Masai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Game Reserves to indulge their passion for Africa’s wildlife.
Their first priority, though, is to set aside funds for their son’s education as Andrew and his wife firmly believe that is the key to a successful future.
Andrew says he agrees entirely with DBR International’s advice about only gambling what you can afford to lose. To future Mega Jackpot winners, he strongly recommends investing in bricks and mortar because property in Malawi will increase in value. He also suggests that winners should bank their money in a long-term savings account where it can quietly continue earning interest so they can continue benefitting from their windfall long into the future.
Andrew claims to have “a foot in both camps” as one parent came from the Southern Region and the other from the North. With their help and encouragement, he benefitted from an excellent education, including a Master’s degree from a well-known British university, and now works with a Christian NGO in Lilongwe.
Finally, asked if he still plays the gaming machines, Andrew tells us, “Yes – but purely for amusement. I know lightning never strikes twice in the same spot!”.
