ELKO, Nev. >> A Nevada gold miner intends to continue working underground despite winning more than $12.5 million.

The Elko Daily Free Press reports that 64-year-old Efren Aguirre of Elko hit the megabucks jackpot at the Gold Dust West Casino at 11:11 p.m. last Tuesday.

Aguirre says he immigrated to the United States from Mexico for “more money,” but this wasn’t exactly what he expected. He’s worked at Newmont Mining Corp.’s Leeville for 16 years and decided to go to the casino after a full day shift on Tuesday.

He says he loves his job as rock breaker operator and doesn’t intend to quit.

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