A Grange man has confessed he had been walking around with a $150,000 top prize winning Instant Scratch-Its ticket in his pocket for days without realising, after he thought he had only won $500.
The winning $10 Jumbo Crosswords Instant Scratch-Is ticket was purchased at Stafford City Newsagency, Shop 78, Stafford City Shopping Centre, 400 Stafford Road, Stafford.
Confirming his prize with a Golden Casket official this morning, the man recalled the moment he discovered his life-changing windfall.
“I scratched the ticket at home the other day and thought I’d only won $500,” he explained.
“So a few days later I went down to the newsagent and got them to scan the ticket and that’s when they told me that they couldn’t pay the prize because it was too big.
“I double checked the letters and realised I hadn’t scratched them all off. I scratched those letters off and thought I had won $15,000.
“It wasn’t until I came into the office today to claim the prize that they told me I had won $150,000! I had missed one letter! I couldn’t believe it.
“To think I’d had it in my pocket the whole time!”
When asked how he planned to enjoy his instant windfall, the thrilled winner said he couldn’t fathom the news.
“I don’t know how I’ll spend it yet! Only five minutes ago I thought I had won a few thousand!” he laughed.
“I’ll have to think about it but right now I am going to rest knowing $150,000 is coming my way.”
Stafford City Newsagency owner Huy Nguyen said he was thrilled his outlet had sold another major prize.
“We’ve been a really lucky store for our customers!” he exclaimed.
“Last year we sold First Prize in Set for Life and now we’ve sold an Instant Scratch-Its top prize.
“We are so thrilled for our winner! We hope he enjoys his prize!”
Between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019, there were 118 Instant Scratch-Its top prize winners across the Lott’s jurisdictions who collectively took home more than $12.14 million in top prizes.
During this same time, 4,182,602 winners pocketed more than $214.2 million across all Instant Scratch-Its prize tiers.
Get more out of your Instant Scratch-Its by joining the Scratch eClub at www.thelott.com. The Club offers monthly Birthday Draws and Second Chance Draws, which give you another chance to win on your non-winning tickets.
The latest range of Instant Scratch-Its tickets are available now at NSW Lotteries outlets.
It can happen in an instant. It could happen to you.
