A high-profile online casino win like this could raise hackles with the anti-gambling establishment in New Zealand. Recently, they’ve had their sights set on international operators of online gaming sites.
For his win of the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot, Rawiri Pou was presented with a check for NZ $10,144,395.82 (US $7.2m) at a press conference in Auckland on Tuesday.
Online Pokies Win
The 27-year-old from Matamata currently works for a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Pou first won $1,500 playing the slot but chose to roll over his winnings which lead to his massive win on June 17.
Casinoland released a statement saying the company was excited for Pou and promised the “life-changing amount of money” would land in his bank account this Friday.
Pou doesn’t have any plans to quit his job at KFC yet. The Kiwi native has admitted he still “doesn’t quite know how to feel” over his stroke of luck.
Progressive Jackpots
The massive jackpot is impressive, especially by New Zealand standards where there have only been two other progressive jackpot wins, but it’s not a Mega Moolah record. Last year, a UK player won €17.9m playing the Microgaming slot game at the online casino, Betway.
Pou’s win will not go down well with the New Zealand government. While it isn’t illegal for Kiwis to play casino games at international gambling sites. Following recent Australian legislation which limits access to sites like Casinoland based in Malta and the UK, New Zealand is exploring similar policy.
The New Zealand government hasn’t yet commented on Pou’s massive win. However, its expected the New Zealand Racing Board will also have criticisms for the perceived growing market share of international online casinos in the New Zealand gambling world.