106-Year-Old Woman Hits Jackpot on Her Birthday—and the Casino Doubles It!
Turning 106 is a milestone most people could only dream of—and for Serafina “Sarah” Papia Peterson, it became even more special when she hit the jackpot at a casino! To top it off, the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee decided to double her winnings to make her day even more unforgettable.
Sarah’s birthday celebration is a yearly tradition at the casino. For 2023, it was no different, and little did she know, this birthday would end up being one for the history books.
While playing, Sarah accidentally pressed the wrong button on the machine—hitting “400” instead of “50”—and just like that, the jackpot appeared. “All of a sudden, we see ‘jackpot,’ and we looked down and she had pressed 400 by accident,” said her niece, Marge Larson. The result? Sarah won over $1,000! And the casino, feeling the birthday spirit, decided to double it! So, how much did Sarah really take home? We don’t know the exact amount, but it’s definitely over $2,000!
In a conversation with WISN-TV, Sarah expressed her joy, saying, “I’m happy to win this money. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it, but I’m going to make a good choice.” A humble winner indeed!
The casino joined the celebrations by sharing the good news on Facebook, posting a heartwarming photo of Sarah with birthday balloons. The message read: “We would like to wish Serafina a very happy 106th birthday! We were surprised and elated to see our friend with her sparkly balloons in Potawatomi Marketplace today.”
Sarah has called Milwaukee home her entire life. Originally from a Sicilian family, she’s a fan of Italian food and has a soft spot for her beloved dog, whom she calls her “person.” “I want to live for my dog,” she says. “He loves me, he takes good care of me.”
But that’s not all—Sarah’s birthday win wasn’t the only impressive jackpot this year! Teenager Juliette Lamour from Ontario, Canada, hit it big by winning $48 million on her very first lottery ticket. At just 18, she made history as the youngest person to win the Ontario Lottery jackpot.
Juliette’s win shows that luck doesn’t care about age, and it certainly loves surprises!
So, here’s to both Sarah and Juliette—two incredible stories of unexpected wins that prove anything is possible.
What’s the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to you? Let us know in the comments below or share this story with your friends and family for some good luck vibes!
