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Gold miner wins $12.5 million at casino, will still go back to work digging for gold

Posted at 4:07 AM, Mar 31, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-31 04:07:55-04

ELKO, Nev. (AP) — Despite winning more than $12.5 million at a casino, a Nevada miner plans to keep digging for gold.

Efren Aguirre tells the Elko Daily Free Press that he loves his job as rock breaker operator in a gold mine and doesn’t intend to quit. The 64-year-old resident of Elko hit the jackpot on a slot machine last week.

Aguirre says he came to the U.S. from Mexico for “more money,” but this wasn’t what he expected.

He has worked at Newmont Mining Corp.’s Leeville mine for 16 years. He says he decided to go to the casino after a shift on March 22.

Aguirre says he and his wife of 44 years bought their dream house in Elko and will put away most of the remaining money for a rainy day.