Diamonds were a man's best friend when a mystery punter won nearly £150,000 at the Westcliff Casino.
The payout is the biggest of its kind at the venue in Western Esplanade and was won in just a handful of hours by a Southend man.
The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, scooped £147,717 when he hit the jackpot playing Casino Club Poker on Wednesday afternoon.
It is understood the man, is in his 40s and a member of the Westcliff Casino, scored a royal flush - king, queen, jack and ten and ace all of the same suit, diamonds, - after placing an accumulator bet.
Although the amount of the original bet is not known it could have been as little as £1. The punter then celebrated by downing champagne and eating a slap-up meal with pals in the casino's restaurant.
John Harland, head of public relations at Westcliff Casino, said: "This is our biggest payout."
Published Friday October 18, 2002
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