Mum wins $3 million after accidentally buying Oz Lotto ticket: 'Unbelievable'

It's likely the best mistake she's ever made.

An ecstatic mum has become a multi-millionaire by accident after she purchased the wrong lotto ticket.

The lucky woman, from Taree on the NSW Mid North Coast, was meant to buy a ticket in Wednesday night’s draw but accidentally purchased an entry into Tuesday night’s Oz Lotto. The twist of fate saw her holding the only division one winning ticket, scoring the whole $3 million prize .

“It’s unbelievable! It’s an extraordinary amount of money!” she told officials from The Lott when they called to confirm her win.

A couple sit in front of a television watching the Oz Lotto draw. (file picture)
The woman's accidental purchase resulted in an incredible $3 million Oz Lotto win. Source: The Lott

“I looked at the ticket last night before bed. I saw all the numbers there and thought, ‘that sort of thing doesn’t happen to me, it only happens to other people’. I thought it might have been a mistake,” she said, adding that she couldn’t sleep after learning of her life-changing win.

“I don’t usually buy Oz Lotto – I’ve probably only bought a ticket in it twice in my life. But the other day, I was getting my usual ticket and must have accidentally asked for a ticket into Tuesday’s draw instead of Wednesday’s. After the ticket was printed, I realised it was the wrong one, but I thought I should just hold onto it. I’m glad I did now.”

The woman said she will put some of the money towards home renovations, while the windfall will “set [her] family up for the future”.

Her winning ticket was a 12-game QuickPick purchased from CTC Taree, where owner Paul Rayment said it was the store’s first division-one winning ticket.

“That’s awesome! That’s the first one for us and it’s great to have one under our belt,” he told The Lott officials. “Here’s to many more big wins for our customers. We wish our big winner all the very best with their prize.”

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