Woman Wins $1M At Casino While Honoring Late Dad On Father’s Day

LAVEEN, AZ — Ashley Oswald says her dad would be pleased with her $1 million windfall at the Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino in Laveen, located just outside of Phoenix. The casino was a favorite haunt for her and her late father, so Oswald went there to honor him on Father’s Day.

And — cha-ching — she hit the jackpot on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. The total payout was $1,090,948.51.

“There is no doubt he was celebrating with me,” Oswald said of her father in a news release.

She lived in Phoenix for 20 years, but left her job as a senior IT analyst last year to move to North Dakota, where she’s closer to family. She was visiting friends in Phoenix when she decided to go to the casino on Father’s Day.

“Vee Quiva has always been my favorite casino,” Oswald said. “It is an incredible experience to win on Father’s Day. My dad would be so excited for me.” (Get Phoenix Patch's real-time news alerts and free morning news letters. Like us on Facebook. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app.)

Oswald isn’t sure what she will do with her winnings, but one thing on her list is a new vehicle.

Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Hotels & Casinos, which owns Vee Quiva, said Oswald’s win caused a big stir on the casino floor.

“We couldn’t be happier for Ashley,” he said in the release. “This is most definitely the trip of a lifetime.”

Lead photo via Shutterstock