Michael Clark has had an unbelievable start to the New Year, winning an astonishing £5.4m, the biggest pay-out in Betfred’s 56-year history, from just a £1.40 spin on the online King Kong Cashpots game.
The sensational triumph will completely transform the life of Newcastle United-mad Michael, a father of three, and his fiancee Sherelle Pooley.
And Michael already has plans to buy two season tickets for his beloved Magpies, while also aiming to have a plush wedding reception when he and Sherelle tie the knot.
The 32-year-old’s grandmother can expect a new stairlift so she can stay in her own home and Sherelle will be getting a brand new, sparkling engagement ring. They’re also eyeing up a honeymoon in Jamaica, a new Tesla car once Michael passes his driving test – and they have already identified a six-bedroom home in the countryside.
Michael, who worked on minimum wage terms at a mental health unit, and Sherelle, who also works as a carer for her grandmother, have already shared some of their good fortune when they met a rough sleeper in Newcastle city centre near the hotel they are now living in.
He asked Michael for a cigarette before they got chatting about how he had come on hard times and Michael promptly paid for him to stay the night in a hotel.
On his historic win, the Betfred regular said: “I was on it for probably 20 or 30 minutes or so and just kept on winning until I found myself playing for the jackpot. At first I thought we’d won £5,000, which was a great amount, but then I realised there were more numbers showing on my phone. I just couldn’t believe that I’d actually won so much.
“We thought it must have been a mistake at first, and then we started hugging each other when we realised it was real. I just couldn’t stop crying, and there was no way I was going to go to sleep that night having won such an enormous amount of money.
“Now we can easily afford to get married and buy our forever home in the countryside. Six bedrooms will do very nicely indeed.
“I absolutely loved my job helping people in the mental health unit where there are people of all ages, but the boss understood when I explained I would have to leave for a bit with all this going on. Sherelle’s told her grandmother not to worry, she’ll still look after her doing all the shopping and everything else.
“Season tickets for us both at Newcastle United are definitely on our wish list, or maybe even a match day box for we’re true Geordies and the team under Eddie Howe are doing very well at the moment.
“We’ve been engaged for seven years, and we’ll be replacing Sherelle’s engagement ring and getting something a lot more expensive than the £1,000 we spent in 2016. I might even buy myself a posh new watch. Everyone’s calling me ‘Micky Millions’ now!
“It would be brilliant to have our wedding reception at St. James’ Park. The honeymoon will probably be in the Caribbean – maybe Jamaica – and we’ll be travelling first class. Sherelle has never been on a plane so we’re already sorting out a passport for her.
“I’ve only got a provisional driving licence so I’ll be getting myself a few more lessons and then a new car, possibly a Tesla.
“For New Year, we fixed up a party for 35 friends and relatives and had a brilliant time. What a start we’ve had to 2023. I’m absolutely determined that we don’t waste the money, so that not just us but the next generations of our family can also flourish.
“It’s just unbelievable what has happened to us – a total transformation of our lives. To be starting 2023 as not just a millionaire but a multi millionaire has blown my mind. I can’t thank Betfred enough…it’s massively appreciated what they have done for us.”
Betfred boss Fred said: “This proves nice guys can win. Michael is the most worthy of winners. It is brilliant news for this smashing couple who have proved you can win big at Betfred from the tiniest of stakes.”
The game King Kong Cashpots on Betfred is provided by Blueprint Gaming and Georgia Parry, Head of UK Account Management said: “News of life-changing wins like this is always a happy read but even more so when it is courtesy of one of our games. Knowing that the winner is as deserving as he and his family clearly are, makes it that much more special. We’re ecstatic that a Blueprint creation has played a part in this and wish the winner and his family a lifetime of happiness.”
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