'Miracle': Incredible Lotto win saves business on brink of closure
A struggling Sydney business owner has been reduced to tears after learning of a life-changing lottery win.
The 50-year-old from Oatlands, in Sydney’s northwest, was on the brink of closing down his business before realising he had won $1.65m in The Lottery Office’s USA Power Lotto draw.
He won the division two prize of $828,000, but accidentally bought a multiplier option for $3.45, which doubled his win.
Incredibly, he was just one number short of winning $170m.
The Lottery Office is a gaming company that allows Aussie punters to have a stake in big overseas lotteries. When Australians purchase a ticket in Lottery Office products the company purchases a matching ticket in the overseas draw.
The man said he hasn’t been able to sleep since learning of his win, and was celebrating the good news with a glass of champagne with his family when The Lottery Office officials phoned him.
He told The Lottery Office CEO Jaclyn Wood the impact of coronavirus and the lockdowns in Sydney meant he was struggling to keep his business running.
“I have been in business for almost 30 years but due to the devastating impact of Covid-19, I was about to go under,” he said.
“I feel like this win is an absolute miracle that has saved my life, and I won’t let this opportunity go to waste. I will put this money towards paying off debts and saving my business.”
Ms Wood said the man was in tears during their phone call.
“The player said the recent lockdowns had been a massive blow to his hospitality businesses and he had suffered numerous sleepless nights figuring out how he could continue to support his family and staff,” she said.
“He emailed us straight after the app notified him of the win, he knew he had won a big prize, but he wasn’t ready to believe it.
“When I called him this morning, he was in tears from the moment I confirmed how much he had won.”
The prize is an Australian record for an international lottery jackpot.
Hunt for mystery Lotto millionaire – could it be you?
In other lotto news, one NSW resident is yet to claim their $1m win after Monday night’s draw.
The ticket is unregistered so officials from The Lott aren't able to contact the winner. Instead, they have to wait for the ticket holder to come forward. It’s possible the winner isn’t aware of their million-dollar windfall.
The winning ticket was purchased in the Lake Macquarie area, north of Sydney, at Pharmacy 4 Less Mt Hutton.
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