An elderly retiree from Saint-Raphaël, named Francine, won the biggest jackpot of the year at the Barrière casino, pocketing over 44,000 euros.
Luck was on the side of an octogenarian regular at the Casino Barrière in Saint-Raphaël this Sunday afternoon. Francine, a familiar face at the establishment, managed to hit the largest jackpot of the year 2026, turning a simple 88-cent bet into an exceptional win of 44,196 euros. It was a highly emotional moment for this loyal player, who now holds the title of the biggest winner at the casino for the current year.
Sunday: 44,196 euros
As usual, Francine, a retiree from Saint-Raphaël, had come to have fun by playing with small amounts. She settled in at her favorite slot machine, a modern and popular device with an Asian theme offering 243 winning combinations. Within minutes, after starting a new round with 88 cents, the reels aligned, and the jackpot signal echoed throughout the gaming room. The screen displayed the sum of 44,196 euros, the largest progressive jackpot on offer at the casino.
“I can’t believe it”
Surprised and overwhelmed with emotion, the winner took time to realize the magnitude of her win. While wishing to remain anonymous, she shared her joy with the casino staff. “It’s extraordinary, I can’t believe it. I’ve never won such a sum. At the moment, I’m really emotional, I still don’t know what I’m going to do with it,” she shared. This event perfectly illustrates the intense moments that a gaming establishment can provide. (*The name has been changed to protect the winner’s anonymity).
A record for 2026, but not an absolute record
This 44,196 euro win takes the top spot for jackpots in 2026 at the Saint-Raphaël casino, surpassing a win of 23,887 euros on January 23 and another of 21,413 euros on February 13. However, it does not break the absolute record of the establishment, set in September 2025 with a jackpot of 73,018 euros. According to management, thrill-seekers can still hope for other significant jackpots. In fact, the jackpot on the machine where Francine won has been reset and has reached 40,000 euros.
The satisfaction of the Barrière Casino
For the management of the establishment, this event is a source of great satisfaction. “The Saint-Raphaël Casino is a place of entertainment and emotions, as demonstrated by the very nice jackpot that fell this Sunday. Congratulations to our lucky winner, who is very much appreciated by the casino teams for her kindness. We are very happy for her, it’s a beautiful story, as we have several times a year,” stated Herve Couroux, General Manager of the Barrière Casino in Saint-Raphaël.
Located at the foot of the Estérel massif, the casino employs 75 staff and welcomed over 260,000 visitors last year. It offers a diverse range of games including 150 slot machines, 37 electronic gaming stations, and 5 traditional gaming tables. The establishment is part of the Barrière group, a major player in luxury entertainment in France, operating 32 casinos, 20 luxury hotels, and over 200 restaurants and bars.
