Four friends turned an ordinary day on the golf course into an unforgettable celebration after their shared Keno ticket delivered more than $77,000.
By Jeff Gibbs
A round of golf has ended with an unexpected financial windfall for four Lismore mates after their shared Keno entry won more than $77,000.
The Northern Rivers friends secured the Keno Classic 8 Spot jackpot in draw 678 on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Their winning ticket delivered a total prize of $77,374.80, giving each member of the group $19,343.70.
The friends had been enjoying their time at Lismore Golf Club when several of the numbers on their shared entry began appearing.
One member of the group said he rarely played Keno and initially did not expect the ticket to produce a major prize.
“It’s very exciting!” he said while speaking to a Keno official.
“I honestly never play, so it was quite the shock. I wasn’t expecting anything at all.
“My mates and I were playing golf, and they decided to put on a ticket all together, so naturally I joined in.”
The atmosphere quickly changed when the friends realised their ticket had matched most of the numbers required for a major win.
“We were just sitting there when I looked over,” the winner said.
“I said, ‘I think we’ve got a few numbers here, boys’. We thought we had seven, but it was a pleasant surprise when we checked the ticket and we actually had eight.”
The discovery transformed an enjoyable day on the course into a celebration the four friends are unlikely to forget.
When asked how he intended to spend his $19,343.70 share of the prize, one winner said his first priority was treating his wife.
“I’ll be taking my wife on holiday,” he said.
“It was a great day! Thank you so much.”
The shared winning entry was purchased from Lismore Golf Club Keno, located at 1 Barham Street, East Lismore.
According to figures supplied by Keno, players across Australia’s eastern mainland states recorded more than 77.6 million wins worth a combined $1.2 billion during the 2025–26 financial year.
Keno also reported that 24 players became millionaires or multimillionaires during that period, sharing more than $54.3 million. Twelve of those major winners were from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
