After nearly two decades of playing the Lottery, the recent Lotto America jackpot winner is still coming to terms with the life-changing win.
The winner, who has played the Lottery for 18 years, credits a longtime family tradition with bringing a little extra luck.
"I always ask my wife to touch my tickets after I buy them to bring me luck," he said.
The moment he realized he had won was one he won't soon forget.
"I checked my numbers at the terminal at the store. When it said I had to go to the lottery, I looked up the numbers on my phone. When the winning numbers came up online, I looked at the numbers, then I looked at my ticket, then I did that about three times," he said. "After that, you might not believe me, but I actually pinched myself. Then I looked around to see if anyone was watching me."
His next call was to his wife.
"After that I called my wife and said, 'I have a winner,'" he recalled. "She asked, 'How much?' and I said, 'I am coming home!'"
Why Not Me?
The winner said his positive outlook helped him believe his day would eventually come.
"I have always been a positive person," he said. "I saw a lot of people winning and thought, 'Why not me?'"
When asked what he’s planning to do with his winnings, he said “I plan to pay off some debts, then pay off my daughters student loans. After that I will work with the professionals to determine the best place to put the money.”
A Minnesota-made lucky moment
The anonymous winner claimed the Lotto America jackpot from the July 18 drawing, with the prize valued at $34.12 million as an annuity or $15.15 million as a cash option. The winning Lotto America ticket was purchased at Holiday Stationstores, 601 Coon Rapids Blvd. NW in Coon Rapids.
After 18 years of playing, this Minnesota Lottery player’s patience, and perhaps a little help from his wife, turned an ordinary Lottery ticket into a life-changing win.
Maybe the next lucky story will be yours.