Thursday, July 31, 2014

Two Big Prizes up for Grabs on Friday Night

Friday's Euromillions drawing has an estimated jackpot of €15 million ($21 million). That's a very respectable prize—especially so considering the jackpot was reset earlier in the week when one ticket matched all five main numbers and the two Lucky Stars necessary to secure Tuesday's €37.6 million ($50.4 million) Jackpot.

The Euromillions draw may have a big prize on offer, but it is easily dwarfed by Friday's US Mega Millions Jackpot. The big prize hasn't been won in over a month and now stands at a very impressive $87 million. To claim the pot player need to match all five numbers and the Mega Ball and if someone does get lucky they will get August off to a very good start indeed.

Calgary Man Wakes up to his Win

When he climbed out of bed last Sunday the day got off to a bad start for Calgary man Emery Cressman. He needed a good, strong cup of coffee, but the cupboard was bare so he had to make a trip to the local store. While he was there he ran his lottery tickets through the self-checker and his day got a whole lot better when he discovered he'd won the CAD$ 7 million jackpot in the July 19, 2014 Lotto 649 draw.

"I thought, 'It's going to be that kind of day,'" Cressman said remembering the long line of customers at the store, but he now realizes it is a day he will never forget.

With a can of coffee in his hand, he began checking his tickets.

"I saw there was a Free Play on one, and thought, 'Right on!' and then I saw, 'appears to be a winner,'" he recalled.

Cressman originally thought he'd won CAD$ 7,000. Then he looked again and thought it was perhaps CAD$ 70,000 so headed on home and double checked the numbers online, but still found it hard to believe the size of his win so roused his wife Lorraine.

"Is this for today’s date?" he asked, and Lorraine had a little difficulty in believing her eyes as well.

"Is this a joke? Are you joking?" she said.

He wasn't joking.

The Cressmans are now looking forward to a more financially secure future.

"This is the first time I am totally out of debt since I was 16 years old," Emery admitted.

Canada Lotto 649 drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are seven levels of prizes and the overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 6.6.

Texas Lottery Faces a Shaky Future

Lawmakers in Texas are considering abolishing the state lottery.

Speaking on Friday, July 25, 2014, Republican Rep. John Kuempel, who is heading the committee looking into the possible ramifications of such a move, said the committee is just trying to ascertain if the Texas State Lottery remains beneficial to everyone.

Many Texans now fear education will take a big hit if lawmakers decide to abolish the lottery. In the fiscal year 2013 the 26% of lottery funds went to state schools.

"I hope they don't take it away," one lottery player protested. "Win or lose, somebody is always going to win. So, let's keep the Lotto, Texas."

The Committee is expected to put forward its recommendations by December 1, 2014.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

UK Lotto Jackpot Split Four Ways

Four tickets matched the six winning numbers in tonight's UK National Lottery Lotto drawing so each ticket holder will be able to claim a quarter of the £1,218,412 Lotto jackpot and should walk away with £304,603.

The winning lotto numbers drawn on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 were 2, 5, 11, 22, 24, and 42. The bonus number was 1.

Six players matched five winning numbers and the bonus ball to win second tier prizes of £16,208, and 228 players won £362 for matching five numbers. A further £5,149,790 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Saturday, August 2, 2014, Lotto drawing has an estimated jackpot of £4 million.

Lotto Win Nearly Gave Alberta Man a Heart Attack

Alberta man Brad Kelly scooped the Lotto 6/49 jackpot on Friday, June 25, 2014, and won the life-changing sum of CAD$ 18 million. He and his wife Amanda visited the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission office on July 29, 2014, to pick up their check and the lucky winner admitted he'd feared for a moment winning the jackpot may have been the end of him.

"I said to the clerk, 'I think something’s wrong with the machine,'" Brad said. "I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it out of there alive or not, I thought I was going to have a heart attack."

Veterinary technician Amanda took a calmer approach to winning the prize. She was at work when Brad rang to give her the good news and told him she was very busy.

"I had to try and stay aloof," Amanda explained. "You never know how you’re going to react."

Directional driller Brad bought the winning ticket from a 7-Eleven store while he was passing through Claresholm on his way home from a work. He still had long drive ahead of him, needed a soft drink, and bought the ticket while he was there.

"I just had a craving for a cherry Dr Pepper," Brad said.

Brad and Andrea have been married for five years and never had a honeymoon, so they intend to put that right in the near future, but neither one of them has any plans for giving up work entirely.

"I'm probably going to still have to do something, because I've always done something," Brad said.

"Yup!" Amanda agreed.

Electrician's Shock Lottery Win

A maintenance electrician from Bay Area, California, will soon be purchasing his first home thanks to sizeable lottery win.

Anthony Smith was doing some grocery shopping at Gazzali's Supermarket on Bancroft Avenue in East Oakland when he had a sudden whim to invest in a few California Lottery scratch-off tickets. He purchased three of them and scratched off the first two without success. The third one proved to be the charm and the elated electrician discovered he'd won $1.3 million.

Smith opted to take his prize in a one-off, lump-sum payment of $750,000 before taxes.

Smith is regular customer at Gazzali's Supermarket and store manager Hamzzah Saleh was overjoyed when he heard the good news.

"He's a very nice gentleman. He deserves it," Saleh said.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Euromillions Jackpot Won on Tuesday Night

One ticket matched the five main numbers and two Lucky Stars required to win tonight's €37.6 million (£29.8 million) Euromillions jackpot.

The Euromillions numbers drawn on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 were 10, 23, 35, 40, and 43. The two Lucky Stars were 3 and 9.

One ticket matched the five main numbers and one lucky star to win a second tier prize of €1 million.

Four players failed to get any Lucky Stars, but matched the five main numbers and won third tier prizes of €85,155.

Forty-nine players won €3,475 for matching four main numbers and two Lucky Stars, and a further 1,595,851 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Friday, August 1, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €15 million (£11 million).

Supermarket Worker Manages to Secure a Sizeable Win

A deputy supermarket manager from Houghton-le-Spring in the North East of England recently got lucky when she won a small fortune on a UK National Lottery Lucky Fortune scratchcard.

Deborah Maddison, 43, who works the Co-Operative Food in Easington Colliery, purchased the £2 scratchcard shortly before she was due to jet off on holiday.

"I was heading off to Spain for two weeks so I bought my usual Lotto tickets for the weekends I wouldn’t be here," Deborah said. "I also like to treat myself to a scratchcard once a week so bought two Lucky Fortune cards as they were the only ones left at the counter!"

The cards produced a double win. Deborah scratched the covering off he first card and discovered she won £4—the combined cost of the two cards. She then went for a sandwich, scratched off the second card in the staff room, and discovered she'd won £70,000.

"I knew instantly that I’d won big," Deborah recalled. "It was plain as day, right there in black and white!"

Two quick phone calls followed. The first one to lottery organizers, Camelot—to confirm the win—and the second one to her bus driver husband, Simon—to share the good news.

"I called him the minute I’d put the phone down to Camelot," Deborah said. "He is very level-headed and told me to calm down."

Deborah and Simon have been dreaming of buying a new home for over a year. Now those dreams could soon become a reality.

"We’ve only been back from our holiday a few days, but I’m already lining up lots of viewings as we’d like to be settled in a stunning new house by the autumn," Deborah said.

Lottery May Not Honor Tickets Due to Printing Error

A man from Milwaukee may lose out on two $1,000 lottery prizes due to a printing error on his Wisconsin Lottery scratch-off tickets.

Ivory Mitchell purchased his the two "Crossword" tickets on July 20, and both tickets appeared to have won $1,000, but when he tried to claim the prizes he was informed the tickets were misprints.

Mitchell thinks the lottery should payout regardless of the error because the mistake was theirs, but it is unclear whether this will be the case. He was told to complete a claim form and expects to hear the lottery's decision sometime within the next 30 days.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Transport Museum Pushing Forward Thanks to Lottery Funding

A transport museum in Dundee, Scotland, has been awarded a £10,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The money will be used to ensure a permanent home for the many exhibits, including the city's only remaining horse-drawn tram, which was rescued from a garden in Perth earlier on in the year.

Most of the exhibits were acquired by independent groups and private collectors who shared a desire preserve Dundee's transport heritage. In February 2010 representatives of several such groups got together and began making plans to establish the Dundee Museum of Transport. A committee was formed and by June 2010 the museum was a registered charity, but it took four years of work before the museum opened its doors to the public on April 26, 2014.

The museum is a completely volunteer-driven project that is committed to restoring and displaying the city's historic vehicles along with relevant transport-related memorabilia.

When the funding was confirmed on Tuesday, July 22, museum chairman Jimmy McDonell said: "We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and it comes on the back of us being awarded three stars as a visitor attraction by VisitScotland.  We are confident the project will guide us further in our aim to become not only a home for transport heritage, but a sustainable and well-used visitor attraction."

The Heritage Lottery Fund is responsible for distributing a share of the funds raised by UK National Lottery Good Causes. Grants are awarded to projects designed to sustain and transform the British Heritage.

Australian Lotto Winners Finally Pick up the Phone

A couple from Australia's Sunshine Coast who became millionaires on Saturday, July 12, 2014, remained ignorant of the fact for six days.

The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, won the AUD$ 1,385,235 jackpot when theirs was the only ticket to match the six numbers winning numbers in the Saturday night Lotto drawing.

The lottery tried to contact the couple on numerous occasions, but they never picked up the phone or responded to the missed calls.

"I'll remember to answer for next time," one of them said when the lottery finally managed to give them the good news.

When asked about their plans for the money they said they intend to share it with their family.

Ohio Lottery to Launch Loyalty Program

The Ohio Lottery players will be launching a new player loyalty program next month.

'My Lotto Rewards' is scheduled to commence August 27. Players will earn points on criteria including online ticket purchases and second chance drawings. Registered online users will then be able to exchange their point for free-play games and other rewards such as sweepstake entries and instant-win games. Points may also be exchanged for Ohio Lottery Merchandise.

The lottery intends to invest $700,000 in building and launching the new scheme and a $3 million prize fund has been set aside for the first year of operation.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Gypsy's Lotto Prediction Came True

A retired NYPD police officer copped a big win earlier this month playing the New York Lottery's new Cash4Life game.

Fifty-one-year-old Edna Aguayo of Ozone Park, Queens, is the first person to win the game's top prize of $1,000 a day for life and when she attended the presentation ceremony, earlier this week; she said she'd been aware a big-win was on the cards for quite some time.

Sixteen years ago a gypsy who read Edna's fortune had seen a fortune in her future and offered her some important advice.

"I was in an amusement park and went to see a reader," Edna recalled. "She told me to buy 'for life' lottery tickets because she could see that one day I was going to hit a 'for life' prize."

Edna took the gypsy's words to heart and they were finally proved true on Monday, July 14, 2014, when her ticket matched all five main numbers and the Cash Ball number in the Cash4Life drawing.

Although she'd always known she would win sooner or later, the win still came as somewhat of a surprise. Edna only expected to win the game's second prize of $1000 a week for life, which requires just the five main numbers; she never thought for a moment it would be her daily income.

The New York Lottery was founded in 1967, and the lottery motto is 'Hey, You Never Know.' In this case the motto was proved wrong because Edna apparently did.

UK Lotto Jackpot Won on Saturday Night

Last night's £4.2 million UK National Lottery Lotto jackpot was scooped by one lucky ticket holder.

The UK Lotto numbers drawn on Saturday, 26 July, 2014, were 8, 14, 22, 26, 35, and 37. The bonus number was 11.

Three players matched five winning numbers and the bonus number to win second tier prizes of £111,812, and 306 players won £930 for matching five numbers. A further £7,740,890 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Wednesday, July 30, 2014, Lotto drawing has an estimated jackpot of £2.1 million.

Barbecue Burger Shortage Leads to Powerball Win

US Powerball Winner Dan Hoffman scooped a $1 million prize earlier this month when he miscalculated the supplies needed for his July 4, Barbecue.

"I can’t believe I won a million dollars because we ran out of hamburgers," Dan said.

Believe it or not, that is exactly what happened because the Yorkville, Illinois, resident would never have made the trip to his local Jewel-Osco supermarket in the first place and so would not have made the spur-of-the-moment decision to buy his Quick Pick Ticket.

The US Powerball is a multi-state draw that offers a minimum jackpot of $40 million. Numbers are drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 22:59 (EST).

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Ontario Couple are Guaranteed Winners

A Canadian couple from Beaverton, Ontario, visited the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) Prize Centre in Toronto this week to claim CAD$ 1 million nearly a month after their ticket scooped the prize.

Allan Clark and Karen Johnston won the guaranteed CAD$ 1 million prize in the Lotto 6/49 drawing held on Saturday, June 28, 2014, but only recently checked their ticket.

"I collect our tickets and wait until I have a batch of them to check all at once," Allan said. "That's why we didn't claim the prize until now."

The lucky couple now plans to replace their vehicles and pay off their mortgage.

"This is the perfect amount to change our lives," Karen said. "Life is short, so it will be nice to enjoy it a little more."

Connecticut Man Picks Up Lotto Win Instead of Gas

When Connecticut Lotto player William Carter II popped into the Fas Mart and Shore Stop on Talcottville Road in Vernon, on Wednesday morning, all he planned to do was fill his pickup truck with gas and pick up a few cold drinks for his cooler. While he was there he ran his Lotto ticket through the self-checker and got such a surprise his original plans were soon forgotten.

"I almost hit the floor when the ticket checker said JACKPOT WINNER," Carter said. "I was so excited, that I left the store without getting gas!"

Carter's ticket, bearing the numbers 7, 26, 28, 29, 32, and 44 matched the winning numbers from the Tuesday, July 22, 2014, Connecticut Lotto drawing. The jackpot for the draw was $3.6 million and Carter had the only ticket bearing those numbers so he scooped the entire prize.

Although $3.6 million is small in comparison to the mammoth jackpots available from bigger draws such as US Mega Millions and US Powerball, it is a very respectable prize for a Connecticut Lotto drawing, and had been pumped up by 43 rollovers. Carter is only the second person to win the jackpot this year.

Carter opted to take his prize as a one-off, lump-sum payment of $2,979,567 and told lottery officials he was going to invest in a house and a new truck and said he would be sure not to forget his family.

"Most importantly, I’m going to take care of my three kids and three grandchildren," he said.

Friday Night is Rollover Night for Euromillions Players

There was a third Euromillions rollover last night, but one lucky ticket secured a €1.4 million (£1 million) prize for matching the five main numbers and one Lucky Star. A second Lucky Star would have bagged the ticket-holder the €30.8 million jackpot.

The Euromillions Numbers drawn on Friday, July 26, 2014, were 9, 10, 12, 24, and 43. The Lucky Stars were 5 and 9.

Eight players failed to match any Lucky Stars, but were awarded third tier prizes of €58,840 for matching five main numbers.

Eighty-Eight players won €2,674 for matching four main numbers and two Lucky Stars, and 2,584,297 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €37 million (£29 million).

Friday, July 25, 2014

Fontana Man Scoops Record Breaking Prize

A man from Fontana scooped the largest lottery win ever to go to a player from San Bernardino County last week when he matched all five numbers and the Powerball in the US Powerball drawing on Saturday, July 19, 2014.

The California Lottery announced the news on Thursday, but they are keeping the winner's identity under wraps until he is presented at a press conference next week. The lucky winner apparently needs a little time to come to terms with newfound wealth.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased from the Cardenas Market, at 8963 Sierra Ave, the day before the draw. The store will receive a $300,000 bonus for selling a winning ticket.

Tesco Workers Bag the Jackpot

Last Saturday's £3.7 million UK National Lottery Lotto jackpot has been claimed by a syndicate of players from a Tesco Supermarket in Devon. Each of the 15 syndicate members takes a £245,996 share of the prize.

All the lucky winners work the night shift at Tesco Roborough, clocking on at 22:00 and working till 07:00; and night work must suit them because none of the group plans to clock out on a permanent basis.

Syndicate leader Jackie Beresford, 56, said: "I think the managers were worried that everybody would just leave, but there is a sense of loyalty there or we wouldn’t keep working."

Apart from Jackie, only eight other syndicate members have decided to go public: Kay Richards, 56; Clare O’Carroll, 53; Sheila Bird, 50; Mandy Bunker, 48; Vanessa Rice, 47; Sarah Wheatley, 46; Tina Carpenter, 46, and Alison Lonsdale, 45.

Speaking about their winning experience, Alison Lonsdale said: "It was unbelievable, we were just looking at each other—we have not slept properly since—it’s like 'Oh my God!'

For the Jackie, who lost her husband David to cancer earlier this year, the win brought back memories of a visit she'd made to a psychic just two weeks before the draw.

"She told me my husband had one regret—that he had not left me in a better financial situation—but that he had a plan," Jackie said. "I just know he’s shining down on me and looking after me, and this was his way of doing it."

Wellington Winner Steps Forward

A woman from Wellington came forward on Thursday and claimed her NZD$ 1.5 million share of Saturday's New Zealand Powerball's first division prize. Her lucky numbers matched those of a woman from Bay of Plenty who claimed her share of the prize on Tuesday.

The Wellington winner told lottery staff she'd been aware a first division prize was yet to be claimed, but it never crossed her mind she may be the missing winner.

She finally got around to checking her ticket on Tuesday and got the surprise of her life when Manners Mags & Lotto store owner Rex Rutherford told her the good news.

"My mind just went blank and I stayed very calm," she said.

The woman has opted to remain anonymous. She plans to do some travelling, but has no fixed plans for the rest of the money.

"There are just so many possibilities now," she said.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Surprise Win for South Carolina Woman

A woman from Taylors, South Carolina, was a little surprised last Friday when her husband handed her a newspaper clipping about an unclaimed $1 million (US) Powerball prize. She got an even bigger surprise when he handed her the winning ticket.

"We won the Lottery," he told her. She didn't believe him, but it was true. The ticket he handed her matched all five of the numbers drawn on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Only the Powerball was missing. If he'd matched that as well he would have scooped the $50 million jackpot.

The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, has no plans for any mad spending sprees, but admitted a celebratory meal was on the cards.

"We're having lunch at McDonalds," the husband said.

"We might splurge and try something that's not on the dollar menu," his wife confirmed.

Quick Pick Ticket Brings a Big Win for Former Mechanic

A retired mechanic from Schuyler County, New York, fixed himself up with a big win when he purchased a ticket for the June 4, 2014, US Powerball drawing.

Doid Kerns, 74, purchased his winning Quick Pick ticket from the Dandy Mart on County Route 79 in Burdett. He returned there on Tuesday so that New York Lottery announcer Yolanda Vega could present him with his winner's check.

Somewhat of a lotto-holic, Kerns admits to buying lottery tickets most days, but his many years of placing numbers for Take 5, Mega Millions and Powerball had never netted him more than $1,000.

All that changed when he successfully matched all five of the numbers drawn on June 4 and secured a second tier win of $1 million. If he'd managed to get the Powerball as well he would scooped the $192 million jackpot.

The jackpot may have escaped him, but Kerns did manage to win a more modest $7 prize on a different line of his winning ticket.

Kerns discovered he was a winner the day after the draw when he popped into a grocery store and ran the ticket through a self-checker. When the display showed $1,000,007 couldn't believe his luck.

"I had the guy double-check on his machine and he said 'Wow,'" Kerns said.

Kerns opted to take his prize as a one-off, lump-sum payment of $661,804 after state and federal taxes.

When Yolanda Vega asked Kerns how he felt when he discovered he'd won only one word would do.

"Happy," he said.

The next US Powerball drawing is on Saturday, July 26, 2014. The estimated jackpot is $50 million.

Dutch Lottery to Sponsor Cycling Squad

The Dutch national lottery has thrown in with the retail company BrandLoyalty and is showing its support for the UCI World Tour cycling squad, Team Belkin, by offering them a sponsorship deal that should help ensure their long-term future.

According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraf, the lottery has agreed to provide the team with the majority of the funding required for 2015. BrandLoyalty will serve as a secondary sponsor.

The final terms have yet to be agreed, but team manager Richard Plugge sees the deal as a move in the right direction.

"When the contracts have been signed—and it looks very promising—this will be great news for the team and for Dutch cycling," Plugge said.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

One Ticket-Holder Scoops UK Lotto Jackpot

One ticket matched the six winning numbers in tonight's UK National Lottery Lotto drawing so the entire £2,498,916 jackpot will go to one lucky ticket holder.

The winning lotto numbers drawn on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, were 14, 18, 20, 30, 43, and 47. The bonus number was 35.

One other player came close to taking a share of the jackpot, but had to settle for a second tier prize of £199,461 for matching five winning numbers and the bonus ball.

Ninety-one players won £1,861 for matching five numbers, and a further £3,658,813 was distributed as smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Saturday, July 26, 2014, Lotto drawing has an estimated jackpot of £4.1 million.

Canadian Couple Wait 7 Months to Claim Massive Prize

A couple from Alberta, Canada, came forward on Tuesday and claimed their CAD$ 50 million prize over seven months after the draw.

Edmonton residents Bill and Andrea Groner scooped the Canada Lotto Max jackpot on December 20, 2013. The mammoth prize is the largest ever to be won on an Edmonton ticket, and the couple discovered they'd won within a couple of days of the draw, but deliberately held off claiming their prize.

Explaining to lottery officials, Andrea admitted she'd checked the ticket with a self-scanner at the local mall on December 22.

"When I checked the ticket, the first thing I should have had was my glasses on. I didn't have those with me," Andrea said. "I had to get the retail clerk there to tell me what it said on the self-scanner. She was more excited than I was at the time. I was in disbelief."

Andrea shared the good news with Bill the moment she arrived home and the couple have been guarding their secret ever since.

"We had to maintain a normal lifestyle until we could get all our ducks in a row that we had to take care of in our own lives," Andrea said.

The Groners have been married for over 25 years, but never had a honeymoon so a belated trip is already on the cards. The couple also plans to help out family and friends and donate some money to charity, but they are not in a rush to go out on a spending spree.

"We've got our whole lives to think what we’re going to do with the win. It's not anything we're going to rush into," Andrea said.

First Division Prize is a Dream Come True for Toowoomba Grandmother

The Australian Lotto player who scooped a AUD$ 624,000 first division win on Saturday claimed her prize on Monday and told lottery officials it was a dream come true.

The grandmother from Toowoomba then explained the winning numbers came to her in a dream over a decade ago and she has been using them ever since.

"I remember I woke up in the morning and thought I better write the numbers down before I forgot them," she said.

The lucky lady has opted to remain anonymous, but lottery staff say she is very excited by the win.

When asked if she had any plans for the money she said: "Who knows at this stage! But I’d say I’ll most likely invest in property and perhaps do some travel."

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Euromillions Rollover on Tuesday Night

There was a Euromillions rollover tonight so there are no new Euromillionaires.

The Euromillions numbers drawn on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, were 1, 24, 43, 45, and 50. The Lucky Stars were 5 and 8.

There were no second tier winners, but five tickets matched the five main numbers and won third tier prizes of €256,211.

Forty-three players won €3,724 for matching four main numbers and two Lucky Stars, and a further 1,422,646 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Friday, July 25, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €31 million (£24 million).

Cash Aplenty for Bay of Plenty Woman

A woman from Bay of Plenty in New Zealand who won cash aplenty at in Saturday's New Zealand Powerball draw visited the lottery headquarters in Auckland on Tuesday July 22, and claimed her NZD$ 1.5 million prize.

The woman, who has opted to remain anonymous, was one of two players who failed to get the Powerball, but got the six main numbers necessary to scoop a first division win. The other winning ticket was purchased in Wellington.

Many lottery players dream of bagging a big win, but the Bay of Plenty's latest millionaire admitted things were a little different in her case. She had her dreams interrupted when she awoke in the middle of the night with a sudden compulsion to check her ticket. She jumped out of bed, went online, and checked her numbers at once.

"I watched the red circles go around all six of my numbers and quickly realized it was going to be big—I just didn't realize how big," the woman said. "To start with I thought I'd won $1500, so I couldn't believe it when I realized I'd actually won $1.5 million.

As for her plans for the money, the woman admits she has already given the matter a lot of thought. She intends to pay for some renovations on the family home, but above all else she has vowed to look after family members.

"Material things are all good and lovely but in the end it's my family that's important," she said.

Florida Man is an Instant Winner

A Palm Coast resident has bagged a $1 million win playing the Florida Lottery's instant win game "100X the Cash".

Matthew Schubert, 49, claimed his prize from the lottery's headquarters in Tallahassee and told lottery officials he had no set plans for money, but admitted he was excited by the prospect of being able to buy his daughters a few treats.

He opted to take his winnings as a one-off lump-sum payment of $718,588.

Schubert bought his lucky ticket from a vending machine at his local Publix supermarket. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling a winning ticket.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Euromillionaire Becomes a Mill Owner

Lottery winner Margaret Loughrey has purchased a historic mill and plans to turn it into a tourist attraction.

Herdman's Mill on the banks of the River Mourne in County Tyrone was founded in 1835. After a turbulent history it was acquired in 2011 by Connective Energy Holdings Ltd, who planned to use the site for a small energy plant.

Estate agent Ronan McAnenny said: "Margaret has big plans for this place; people will be delighted that the mill is in local ownership and while plans are at a very early stage, this facility should help regenerate Sion Mills and the wider area around it, which has been in need of investment for a long time."

Loughrey's €32 million Euromillions win in December 2013 remains the largest jackpot ever won by a Northern Ireland player.

Lottery Cash for Cinema Project

A community cinema in Bournemouth, England, may be up and running by autumn thanks to a £7,400 cash injection from the Big Lottery Fund's Awards for All programme.

Each year the Big Lottery Fund distributes 40% of all the money raised for good causes by the UK National Lottery. Their Awards for All program funnels some of the funds into projects that benefit local communities.

The new cinema will be based at the Henry Brown Centre in West Howe and will initially screen films for elderly citizens.

The lottery funds will be used to purchase necessary equipment including a Blu-ray projector.

Councilor Roger Marley has been spearheading the scheme and, being a former cinema manger, the project is close to his heart.

"To achieve something like this, not only as a ward councilor but as a person who has spent his whole life in the cinema industry, is great," Marley said. "I hope it will be a rewarding experience for these retired people."

Marley hopes to show classics such as the romantic drama Brief Encounter (1945) and is also keen to screen some newer offerings like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011).

"If the cinema is successful, then we'll move on to engage with other residents of West Howe," Marley promised and was keen to show his gratitude for the lottery funding.

"It's great there's a grant from the Big Lottery which means we can move on," he said.

Two Tickets Scoop First Division New Zealand Lotto Wins

No ticket-holders managed to get the Powerball in Saturday's New Zealand Powerball drawing, but a couple of lucky players managed to secure Lotto First Division wins of NZD$ 1.5 million.

One of the winning tickets was purchased at Manners Mags & Lotto in Wellington. The other was purchased at MyLotto in Bay of Plenty.

The winners have yet to come forward and the New Zealand Lottery is advising players who purchased their ticket from either of the aforementioned stores to write their name on the back of the ticket at once and check it a their nearest Lotto outlet.

The next New Zealand Powerball drawing is on Saturday, July 26, 2014. The estimated jackpot is NZD$ 11 million.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Elderly Arizona Woman Falls Victim to Lottery Scammers

An elderly woman from Prescott, Arizona, who was coerced into believing she'd won a US Mega Millions prize, was swindled out of $20,000, according to a report issued by the Prescott Police Department.

The scammers made initial contact with the seventy-eight-year-old via phone in February 2014 and sent her a check for $18,000. Following the instructions she was given she then deposited the check into her bank account.

The scammers then instructed her to make two $9,000 withdrawals and forward the cash to Jamaica.

A few days later she was informed the $18,000 check had not cleared. She then had to sell her car and other valuable items to clear the debt with the bank.

The scammers contacted her again in June and convinced her to make further payments of $50, $100, and $140.

Illinois Lotto Winners Plan State-Wide Tour

A retired couple from Tiskilwa, Illinois, claimed a Mammoth $10.25 prize on Friday and told Illinois Lottery officials they plan to use some of the money to fund a trip around the USA.

Les and Beth Saal purchased their winning Quick Pick Illinois Lotto ticket from a store in Jolliet while visiting some friends and their Quick Pick turned into some quick cash when the ticket matched all six of the numbers drawn on Monday, June 28, 2014.

"I always thought I would win big someday, but not this big," Les said and vowed he and Beth would not go out and 'splurge' their winnings on a buying spree. Apart from their USA tour, the couple's other plans include arranging some investments and setting up a college fund for their four grandchildren.

The next Illinois Lotto drawing is on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. The estimated jackpot is $58 million.

Israeli Lottery Scammers Jailed

A Judge in New York Jailed two Israelis on Monday, July 14, for their part in an international lottery scam that succeeded in swindling over $8 million from elderly US citizens.

Avi Ayache and Yaron Bar headed a team of 12 scammers, based in Israel, who tricked Americans out of their life savings and filtered the funds into bank accounts in Israel, Cyprus, and Uganda.

Judge Loretta Preska sentenced Bar to 12 years in prison and awarded a 13 year sentence to Ayache after they pleaded guilty to their part in the four year mail and wire fraud.

Federal prosecutor Preet Bharara described the gang as a "predatory group" and said Ayache and Bar had been 'preying on their victims' dreams of financial comfort'  to trick them out of their savings.

"Now Ayache and Bar will spend a substantial portion of their lives in prison," Bhara said.

Between 2005 and 2009 the two men made numerous calls to US citizens, reading them a script of lies and promising large cash prizes.

The victims were then informed they would need to pay thousands, tens of thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover fees before the funds could be released.

The elaborate con was backed-up by gift baskets and bunches of flowers sent to congratulate the victims on their lucky wins and encourage them into parting with further amounts of money.

The gang was extradited to the United States in 2009.

Seven other gang members have already received lesser terms. Three more will be sentenced in the coming weeks.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

One Ticket-Holder Scoops Saturday's UK Lotto Jackpot

One ticket matched the six winning numbers in the UK National Lottery Lotto drawing tonight so the lucky ticket-holder bags the entire £3.6 million Jackpot.

The winning lotto numbers on Saturday, July 19, 2014 were 05, 09, 14, 25, 34, and 38. The bonus number was 40.

Seven players matched five winning numbers and the bonus ball to win second tier prizes of £42,075, and 286 players won £874 for matching five numbers. A further £8,505,522 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

Last Saturday's Lotto £3.5 million jackpot was claimed on Friday by a syndicate consisting of four British Legion Members. Barry Jackson, Brendan O’Rourke, Peter Lloyd and Dennis Speers will each receive a £893,634 share of the prize.

The four friends met 20 years ago at British Legion's Slough branch.

Syndicate leader Barry Jackson, 58, discovered the good news on Sunday, July 13, but he was not in possession of the winning ticket so he had to ring up Brendan O’Rourke, who pulled the ticket from his fruit bowl and double checked the numbers.

Once Brenden had confirmed the win Barry rang the other two syndicate members and gave them the good news.

All four syndicate members are delighted by the win and already have plans in place for the money. Barry intends to buy a new car and the other three winners are looking forward to getting away on vacation.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The next Lotto drawing is on Wednesday, July 23. The estimated jackpot is £2.1 million.

Instant Winner keeps a Cool Head

Sixty-year-old Robert wood from Manatee County, Florida, had reason to celebtrate earlier this week when he bagged the $3 million top prize playing the Florida Lottery's "Gold Rush Trippler" instant win-type game.

Wood purchased his $20 ticket from the  Mail Station on  Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota. Store owner Tim Lowe was one of several people present when Wood scratched-off the ticket.

"He was pretty calm," Lowe recalled. "He was more calm than us."

The cool-headed winner chose to take his prize as a one-off lump-sum payment of $1.95 million, after state and federal taxes.

A Florida Lottery spokesperson said: "The winner said he didn't want any media attention and didn't pose for a photograph."

Irish Lottery Player Receives an Early Wedding Present

A lucky Dubliner visited the National Lottery Ireland's head office yesterday afternoon to pick up a €350,000 winner's check and told lottery officials he already had at least one good use for the money.

 "It couldn’t have happened at a better time as I’m getting married next year!" he said.

Like many a lottery winner before him though, the young man admitted he initially misread his ticket.

"When I first checked my ticket I thought it was €35,000 – which would have been great.  But then found out it was €350,000, which is amazing!" he explained.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Euromillions Rollover on Friday Night

Friday's Euromillions draw ended in a rollover so there are no new Euromillionaires.

The winning Euromillions numbers drawn on Friday, July 18, 2014, were 1, 11, 29, 41, and 43. The Lucky Stars were 3 and 11.

Two players won second tier prizes of €685,059 for matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star.

Three players lucked out on Lucky Stars, but were awarded third tier prizes of €152,235 for matching five main numbers.

Forty one players won €5,569 for matching four main numbers and two Lucky Stars, and a further 2,055,703 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €21 million (£17 million).

The Future's Looking Bright for Maryland Powerball Winner

A former locksmith from Elkton, Maryland, who won a $1 million US Powerball prize, is hoping his newfound wealth will be the key to a bright new future.

Rodriquez DaCosta, 52, lost his job earlier this year and his apartment followed shortly afterwards. Since then he has been living with friends. He now plans to pay off some bills, pay for a computer sciences course Delaware Technical and Community College, and set up a retirement fund so he can live off the interest.

Speaking with Maryland Lottery officials on Wednesday, July 16, DaCosta recalled the moment he realized his luck had taken a turn for the better.

"I heard there was a million dollar winner in Elkton," he said. "When I looked at the numbers I thought, those really look familiar."

Still unsure about the numbers, he pulled out his iPhone and checked his ticket against the numbers shown on the Maryland Lottery app.

"I was hoping I wasn’t dreaming," Da Costa said.

He wasn't dreaming, but the realization that so much money was heading his way set his mind racing with all possibilities.

"I had a hard time sleeping the first night," he said.

Maryland Lottery spokesperson Doug Lloyd said: "We’re excited for Mr. DaCosta. This is going to open some doors for him."

The US Powerball is a multi-state draw that offers a minimum jackpot of $40 million. Numbers are drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 22:59 (EST). The estimated US Powerball jackpot for Saturday, July 19, 2014, is $60 million.

Where is British Columbia's Missing Lotto Winner?

Someone who purchased a Canada Lotto Max lottery ticket in Langley, British Columbia, won the CAD$ 50 million jackpot on March 14. That was over four months ago and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLG) is still waiting for the winner to come forward.

The winning Lotto Max numbers drawn on March 14, 2014 were 3, 4, 5, 7, 31, 33, and 40. The Bonus Ball was 49.

According to lottery rules, Lotto Max winners have a year to claim their prize so there is still plenty of time for the winner to present their ticket, but winners lose potential interest each day their prize remains unclaimed.

Lotto Max drawings are held once each week, on Fridays. The estimated jackpot for Friday, July 18, 2014 is CAD$ 15 million.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Woman Finds €500,000 Ticket in the Bottom of her Handbag

A UK Euromillions winner from Waterford, Ireland, was carrying around a €500,000 lottery ticket for three days and never realized it.

The woman has opted to remain anonymous, but the National Lottery Ireland states she purchased her winning €3 Quick Pick ticket from Dunphy’s Castle Shop on Cork Road just hours before the Friday, July 11, drawing.

The woman never gave the ticket a second thought until Monday, July 14, when she noticed it at the bottom of her handbag.

"When I checked the ticket I realized I'd won something, but I didn't know what!" the woman said. "I had all the family checking the numbers."

She picked up her check from the National Lottery's offices in Dublin on Wednesday. Placing it safely inside her handbag she joked: "I'll not forget this in there!"

Canadian Lotto Player Fears Thieves may have stolen Winning Ticket

A man from Ontario, Canada, whose vehicle was robbed last week now fears the thieves may have made away with a lottery ticket worth CAD$ 1 million.

Peterborough resident Mark Smith is a regular customer at  the Bailieboro gas station in Otonabee-South Monaghan and often buys a couple of Canada Lotto 649 lottery tickets while he is filling his tank.

When he popped into the station on Friday, July 11, 2014, he picked up a couple of tickets for the July 12 drawing, left them in his car and forgot to check them after the draw. Normally this would not be a big deal, but when Smith climbed into the car on Monday morning to head for work he realized his vehicle had been robbed.

The only missing items were some loose change and the two tickets and Smith was not particularly worried about either until the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced a CAD$ 1 million ticket had been purchased in Peterborough, but the holder had not stepped forward to claim the prize.

"When I heard [the announcement] on the radio, I immediately started thinking 'Could it be one of the tickets that was stolen?'" Smith said, but added he  takes comfort in the fact that, should someone try and claim the prize, he can prove he is the ticket's rightful owner because he used his MasterCard to buy one of the tickets.  He paid for the second ticket by cashing in a free play ticket and signed the back of the ticket he traded in.

Hoosier Lottery to Host Free Concert on Friday Night

The Hoosier Lottery is hosting a free concert on Friday, July 18, at the American Legion Mall in Indianapolis. The Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Music Heritage Festival I will commence at 18:00 with R&B singer-songwriter Keith Sweat heading a line-up that includes R&B band After 7 and R&B techno-funk group the S.O.S Band.

The [Indiana] Hoosier Lottery is the only American lottery that takes its name from the state's nickname. Since Hoosier Lottery draws first began in 1989 the lottery has paid out over $9.2 billion in prizes and transferred $4.3 billion to the State of Indiana.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

One Ticket Wins the Wednesday Night UK Lotto Jackpot

One lucky ticket holder matched the six winning numbers in the UK National Lottery's mid-week Lotto drawing and scooped the £1.6 million jackpot.

The winning lotto numbers drawn on Tuesday, July 16, 2014 were 4, 11, 22, 27, 47, and 49. The bonus number was 33.

Three players matched five winning numbers and the bonus ball to win second tier prizes of £44,925 each, and 192 players won £596 for matching five numbers. A further £4,700,611 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Saturday, July 19, 2014, Lotto drawing has an estimated jackpot of £4.1 million.

Midwife's Lottery Joy

A midwife from Wigan, England, took a break from delivering babies last week and took delivery of a bundle of cash.

Poolstock resident Ruth Breen, 35, won a Euromilllions Millionaire Raffle prize of £1 million on Tuesday, July 8, but the single mum has vowed she will not allow the joyous event to change her and still intends to continue with her job at Wigan Infirmary.

"I love my job," Ruth affirmed. "Delivering babies is like winning the lottery in that both are a huge privilege and honor, but thankfully there isn’t as much paperwork with a big check."

Despite her desire to keep both her feet planted firmly on the ground, Ruth admits to being bowled over by her healthy new bank balance.

"It’s absolutely incredible," she said. "It’s gone from having to be very, very careful with money—which has always been tight—to having a million."

Up until the win the cash-strapped Wigan Warriors fan couldn't even afford a landline.

"We’ve always had no cash to spare, and every penny counts, there have been no treats," Ruth admitted and went on to say her daughter Lucy is now looking forward to a very special new addition to their home—Wi-Fi.

As for her intentions for the money, Ruth says she intends to pay off her mortgage and set some cash aside to fund Lucy's education at a private secondary school. She also plans to make a donation to the Amanda Penk Fund—set up to raise money for maternity care equipment—but Ruth hasn't forgotten her favorite rugby team. She plans to buy a couple of Wiggin Warriors Season tickets so that she and Lucy never need miss any of next season's games.

One Ticket Scoops Tuesday's Euromillions Jackpot

Last night's €67.9 million (£53.7 million) Euromillions jackpot was scooped by one lucky ticket-holder.

The Euromillions numbers drawn on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, were 15, 18, 20, 27, and 34. The Lucky Stars were 1 and 3.

Three players won second tier prizes of €391,019 for matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star.

Seven players failed to get any Lucky Stars, but secured third tier prizes of €55,859 for matching the five main numbers.

Forty-nine players won €3,989 for matching four main numbers and two lucky stars, and 1,995,159 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Friday, July 18, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €15 million (£11 million).

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Waiter's Dream Win Results in Court Battle with his Employer

A joint Lottery venture that began in a Turkish Restaurant in York sparked a bitter feud between a waiter and his employer and resulted in the two men airing their differences in a London Court yesterday.

On January 9, 2014, waiter Fatih Ozcan awoke from a vivid dream in which he was holding a large bundle of cash and standing next to his employer, Kapadokya restaurant-owner,  Hayati Kucukkoylu.

A firm believer in the power of dreams, Ozcan approached his employer and convinced him to partner with him and buy a ticket for the Euromillions drawing on Friday, January 10. It took Ozcan three hours to talk his employer around, but Kucukkoylu finally agreed and Ozcan went and bought the ticket.

Ozcan's premonition would appear to have been sound because the ticket scooped a £1 million prize, but the dream turned sour when Kucukkoylu tried to claim the entire prize himself, stating the stake had come from the restaurant till and he alone had picked the winning numbers.

Ozcan rang UK National Lottery Organizers, Camelot, at once and tried to stop Kucukkoylu from claiming the prize by stating his employer had stolen the ticket from his pocket. He later admitted this was a lie.

After reviewing close circuit TV footage that indicated both men had jointly picked the numbers and  had each contributed to the £9 stake,  Judge Gosnell said that although, Mr. Ozcan was 'an admitted liar' his story was 'inherently more plausible' than that of Mr. Kucukkoylu's so he ruled the pair should split the prize.

Kucukkoylu plans to appeal Judge Gosnells' decision. "I have the ticket. The judge made a decision we have to share, and I'm not going to accept that," he said.

Euromillions Superdraw in October

Euromillions has announced there will be Superdraw on Friday, October 3, 2014.

EuroMillions Superdraws are occasional drawings that are usually held about twice a year. They differ from ordinary draws by offering a guaranteed jackpot of €100 million (£80 million).

If no player successfully matches all the numbers drawn on Friday October 3, the jackpot will rollover in the normal way and receive a boost from ticket sales.

The last Superdraw should have been held last month, on Friday, June 6, but it had to be cancelled because, after a succession of rollovers, the jackpot was already larger than the offered €100 million.

Lotto Player Forgot about his Big Win

An Australian lottery player from Melbourne who won AUD$ 700,000 in February has finally claimed his prize. When asked why he had taken so long to come forward he told Tattslotto officials the winning ticket has slipped his mind.

"When I checked my ticket in February and realized I'd won Tattslotto, I thought I'd be excited, but it turns out I was just overwhelmed by it all," he said.

The winner's mind was jogged by a news story about the unclaimed prize.

The winning ticket was purchased on February 22, 2014, in Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD.  The ticket was not registered so lottery officials were unable to chase the matter up and get his money to him sooner.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Calgary Man Hounded by Lottery Scammers

A man form Calgary, Canada, who saw through a lottery scam and refused to part with any money to secure release of the bogus prize is now being inundated with harassing phone calls demanding he make payment.

Jim Baker's troubles began last month when he received a phone call stating he had won a large "Global Lottery" cash prize.  He was then told he would need to pay some up-front fees before the funds could be released, but Baker was not so easily taken in.

"They say I had won 840 some thousand dollars and a new Mercedes Benz, but then they said I had to pay some kind of a fee for filing and everything and Canadian taxes," Baker explained. "Well that's a bunch of BS because you don't pay taxes on lotteries up here."

When Baker refused to play along with the scammers they began sending him checks through the mail and instructed him to cash them wire the money to a US bank.

The fact that he never cashed any of the checks has not deterred the scammers, who have been hounding Baker and his wife with an ongoing barrage of phone calls demanding payment. The situation has got so bad the Bakers no longer answer their phone unless they recognize the number displayed on the caller ID.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is aware of the scam and believes it originated in the US, but is now targeting Canadian citizens.

Middleborough Man Makes a Quick Million

Carl Peterson III from Middleborough, Massachusetts, was in good cheer last week when he bagged a $1 million prize playing the Massachusetts State Lottery's new instant win "$4,000,000 Gold Bullion" game.

Peterson claimed his prize on July 7, and chose to take his winnings as a one-time lump-sum payment of $466,000, after taxes. When asked about his plans for the money Peterson said his first purchase would likely be a new car.

Peterson is the first person to win the $1 million second prize available in the new game. Fourteen more remain, along with five top prizes of $4 million.

This Week's Big Jackpot's

Euromillions, US Mega Millions, and US Powerball offer the most enticing jackpots this week. The next Euromillions drawing will be held on Tuesday, July 15, and boasts an estimated jackpot of €67 million ($91.1 million).

The next US Mega Million drawing is also scheduled for Tuesday night at 22:59 (Eastern Time). The present estimated jackpot is $41 million.

Wednesday night is US Powerball night. The numbers will be drawn at 22:59 (Eastern Time) and Powerball beast Mega Millions this week by offering players a $50 million jackpot.

Lower down the scale, 15 million is a common figure this week. Today's French Lotto has an estimated jackpot of €15 million, as does Friday's EuroJackpot drawing. The Canada Lotto Max numbers will also be drawn on Friday and the present estimated jackpot stands at CAD$ 15 million

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Eurmillions Winner Mucks in to Help a Good Cause

Welsh Euromillons winner Les Scadding donned a hi-vis vest, a hard hat, and a pair of work boots on Friday, July 13, and helped with restoration work on a historic canal waterway in Cwmbran, Wales.

Scadding, who scooped a £45.5millionEuromillions prize in 2009, was one of several Welsh lottery winners who gave up their time to scoop sludge and perform other restoration work at the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Llantarnam.

The team of lottery winners was taking part in the Waterworks project-led by Torfaen Council and the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust, which recently received a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £845,500.

New California Lottery Scam Targets Hispanic Community

Police in Escondido, California, have issued an alert to the Hispanic community warning them to beware of a new lottery scam that targets Spanish-speaking citizens.

Crooks work in pairs, backed-up by a third accomplice who offers them support via mobile phone.

According to the press release issued by Escondido Police Lieutenant Eric Skaja on Thursday, July 10, 2014, recent activity appears to be confined to the areas around East Valley Parkway, east of Ash Street.

The first crook—usually a woman—approaches the intended victim and claims to need help cashing a winning lottery ticket. Moments later the second crook—usually a male—arrives on the scene and offers their assistance.

The second crook then takes out his mobile phone and appears to ring the California Lottery to confirm the validity of the situation. The intended victim is then handed the phone and the third crook, posing as a lottery official, tries to convince them the claim is genuine and states an upfront payment will be required, to pay fees and taxes, before the payment can be released.

The first two scammers then ask the victim to withdraw a sizeable amount of money from their bank to pay the fees, promising to return up to five times the amount when the funds are released.

After the crooks have got the money they depart and the victim never sees or hears from them again.

One Ticket Scoops Saturday's UK Lotto Jackpot

One ticket matched the six winning numbers in the UK National Lottery Lotto drawing on Saturday, July 12, 2014, so the lucky ticket-holder gets the entire £3.5 million jackpot.

Saturday's winning lotto numbers were 3, 19, 23, 28, 37, and 43. The bonus number was 34.

Six players matched five winning numbers and the bonus ball to win second tier prizes of £47,552 each, and 371 players won £652 for matching five numbers. A further £8,709,560 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Wednesday, July 16, 2014 Lotto drawing has an estimated jackpot of £2.1 million.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

$1 million Top-up for Kimberly-Clark "Process Specialist Retirement Fund"

A lottery syndicate constisting of 14 workers from the Kimberly-Clark plant in Beech Island, South Carolina, cleaned up on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, when they scooped a $1 million US Powerball Win.

The "Process Specialist Retirement Fund" syndicate was formed last year and members have been chipping-in a  weekly $5 contribution for 18 months. Each member will now see a $48,500 (after taxes) return on their investment.

Recalling their discovery of the win for South Carolina Education Lottery officials Synicate member David Adams said: "We took the ticket around to all the guys, and we just kept checking the numbers over and over again. We were taking pictures and high-fiving."

The winning ticket was purchased from the 3 Way Food Mart 6 on Pinelog Road in Warrenville. The store received a retailer's bonus of $10,000 for selling a winning ticket.

Suspended Connecticut Lottery Retailer Fights to be Reinstated

A suspended retailer has requested an oral argument with the Connecticut Lottery and hopes to persuade lottery officials to reinstate his license to sell tickets.

Furkan Kudia, who co-owns Weston Hardware and Housewares in Weston, Connecticut, was suspended in June after an investigation by the Connecticut Department of Consumer protection (DCP) indicated he had been pre-punching online lottery tickets and then selling them to his customers once he had determined they were not winners.

On Monday, July 7, Kudia’s attorney filed a request for an oral argument with the DCP, and asked for his client to be reinstated.

Kudia claims his actions were the result of a mistake rather than a deliberate attempt to line his own pockets.

The Weston Hardware Store first began selling Connecticut Lottery tickets in 2009. It is the only lottery retail outlet in Weston and Kudia claims the lack of a local ticket vendor will make things hard for Weston residents.

"Customers are asking for lottery tickets. They really miss it," he said.

DCP commissioner William Rubenstein has confirmed a hearing will be scheduled so that Kudia can present his argument.

The Connecticut Lottery was not the only lottery to take action against suspect retailers last month. The Florida Lottery either suspended or terminated the licenses of 49 retailers.

Together with his mother, one Florida Lottery retailer had claimed 47 prizes of $1,0000 or more within just three years. The retailer in question sold tickets via a string of seven stores. The Florida Lottery removed their equipment from all seven stores are banned them from selling any further tickets.

Another Euromillions Rollover on Friday Night

There was a sixth Euromillions rollover last night so the champagne bottles will have to remain corked for a little while longer.

The Euromillions numbers drawn on Friday, July 11, 2014, were 5, 22, 35, 38, and 49. The Lucky Stars were 4 and 7.

Six lucky players won second tier prizes of €269,389 for matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star. If any of those players had matched a second Lucky Star they would have scooped the €60 million jackpot, but it was not to be and the big-money prize has been saved for another day.

Twelve players failed to get any Lucky Stars, but were awarded third tier prizes of €44,898 for matching five main numbers.

Fifty-three players won €5,082 for matching four main numbers and two lucky stars, and 2,565,897 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €67 million (£53 million).

Friday, July 11, 2014

Identity of Irish Lotto Winners will not be Revealed

A family from County Clare has claimed last Saturday's €4.4 million Irish Lotto Jackpot. They visited National Lottery Ireland's offices in Dublin on Thursday to pick up their check, but the mystery surrounding their identity will continue because they have opted to remain anonymous.

The family purchased their winning €4 Quick Pick ticket from Reddan’s Store and Post Office in Sixmilebridge on Friday, July 4, and news that the store had sold a winning ticket quickly became a hot topic of conversation in the town.

There was much speculation about the winners identity, but Kate Reddan, whose parents own the store, appears to have been proved right when she stated the winners 'could just decide to remain anonymous'.

In a statement issued via the National Lottery Ireland the winners said they were 'shocked and stunned' by the win.

Ireland's latest Euromillionaires say they no have specific plans for the money, but state they are looking forward to the future and enjoying their lives.

County Clare has been unusually lucky for lottery players of late.

In August 2013 a woman from County Limerick crossed the border, purchased a ticket in Lahinch, and won a €6m jackpot prize. Then, in November 2013, a couple from Quin won a €5.5 million jackpot.

Lady Luck showed further favoritism to County Clare players in March this year when a €24 mix play ticket purchased in Kilrush scooped a very impressive €8.3 million prize.

Better than Football!

A woman from South Dublin accompanied her husband to the National Lottery Ireland's head office earlier this week and told lottery staff his recent win had given her quite a surprise.

"I heard a roar from him and thought he was watching the football. Then he said, I've won the EuroMillions!'" she recalled.

The man, who has opted to remain anonymous,  was one of four players who won €385,460 for successfully matching the five main numbers and one Lucky Star in the Friday, July 4, 2014, drawing.

A second Lucky Star would have secured last week's €42 million jackpot.

His initial plans include paying off his mortgage and buying a better car, but a holiday may also be on the agenda.

"The kids want to go to Disneyland in Florida. Maybe we’ll just have to do that too!" he said.

US Powerball Jackpot Won by a Player in Ohio

Wednesday's US Powerball Jackpot was won on a ticket purchased at the True North gas station in Conneaut, Ohio. The ticket holder has yet to come forward and claim their $124.9 million prize.

This is the third time a player an Ohio player has won the jackpot since April 2010, when the state first joined the game.

The winning US Powerball numbers drawn on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, were 9, 25, 42, 55, and 57. The Power Ball was 14.

The next US Powerball drawing is on Saturday, July 12. The estimated jackpot is $40 million.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Main Man Doing Bird for Christmas Stealing Spree

A man from Maine, USA, who went spent the Christmas Holiday season stealing scratch-off lottery tickets could be spending the next three years on extended vacation in the state prison.

Saco resident, Nathaniel Glavin, 35, was sentenced at Rockingham Superior Court on Tuesday morning after he pleaded guilty to two theft felonies relating to stores in Exeter, Hampton, Newmarket, Portsmouth and Stratham.

Glavin's stealing spree began on Christmas Eve 2013, when he stole tickets from three stores. He targeted three more stores between December 27 and December 29.

Judge Marguerite Wageling sentenced the lottery-loving criminal to 1 ½ to 3 years in prison for one charge and gave him a suspended sentence of a further 1 ½ to 3 years for the second charge.

Norwegian Student Scoops a Big Win on Last-Minute Ticket

A Norwegian Lottery player from Tromsø scooped a big last week using a ticket he purchased on impulse just seconds before ticket sales closed.

Economics student Ronny Anderson, 23, was enjoying a barbecue with some friends, but supplies of food were running low so he popped down to the Co-op Extra supermarket in Bjerkaker to top-up on supplies.

While at the store Ronny had a sudden desire to buy a lottery ticket, but feared he may have left it too late.

"It was just before 6pm, when the betting closes. I remember that I wasn't sure whether I would actually reach it on time," Ronny said in an interview with local newspaper iTromsø.

He purchased his ticket just 81 seconds before ticket sales closed.

Later that evening Ronny received a phone call from, Norwegian lottery organizers, Norsk Tipping informing him he'd just won 3,221,550 kroner (USD$ 520,000).

"I started shaking. That was a call I didn’t expect," Ronny said.

Ronny does not plan to let his newfound wealth go to his head. He has a part-time job in a food store and turned up for work as normal the day after the draw. He has no interest in quitting and his plans for the money are modest. He intends to get his driving license and has already discussed a couple of other possibilities with his girlfriend.

"We would like a new stove and also dream about a holiday in the Mediterranean," Ronny said.

UK Lotto Jackpot Goes to Two Ticket Holders

Two tickets matched the six winning numbers in the UK National Lottery Lotto drawing on Wednesday, July 9; so the £4.6 million Lotto jackpot will be split two ways. Each ticket-holder will receive £2,330,745.

Wednesday's winning lotto numbers were 3, 8, 11, 12, 39, and 43. The bonus number was 18.

Four players matched five winning numbers and the bonus ball to win second tier prizes of £38,572, and 164 players won £798 for matching five numbers. A further £5,253,898 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Saturday, June 12, 2014, Lotto drawing has an estimated jackpot of $4.1 million.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Late Night Shopping Trip Bags Unemployed Man a £100,000 Lottery Win

An unemployed man from Canvey Island, England, who tagged along with his mother when she went out to buy some milk couldn’t believe his luck when their shopping trip bagged him a £100,000 scratchcard win.

Sonny Williamson, 29, who lives with his parents and girlfriend, bought his £1 UK National Lottery "Rainbow 2014 Scratchcard" because he needed change to pay his mother back for some late-night snacks, but never dreamed the visit to their local Texaco Garage would result in his bank account filling up with cash.

"I started to scratch the numbers off in the car and when I had two £100,000 signs in a row I initially mistook it for £100, which would have been nice in itself," Sonny said. "When I scratched off the third, I couldn’t believe it. I think I went into shock."

He asked his mother to double check the ticket for him and she confirmed it was a winner. Then when he arrived home Sonny woke up his girlfriend and asked her to check it as well. She also confirmed it was a winner, but he still found it hard to get his head around the fact that he'd won such a large prize.

"It wasn’t really until I spoke to the National Lottery that I began to believe it," Sonny said and admitted that, after months of job-hunting; he got quite emotional once the funds had cleared.

“I actually started to shake when I saw my bank balance on the cash machine. It really was like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow," he said.

Florida Lottery Ticket Sales Top $5 Billion

The Florida Lottery has announced sales of over $5.36 billion in tickets during the fiscal year ending June, 30, 2014. Ticket sales for the previous fiscal year also topped $5 billion so the lottery would appear to be thriving in the Sunshine State.

Lottery officials state the increase in revenue should result in an estimated $1.4 billion going to state schools and to fund programs such as the Bright Futures scholarship program.

Officials believe much of the lottery's present success can be attributed to the increasing popularity of scratch-off-tickets and big-prize draw-type games such as Mega Millions and US Powerball.

Earlier this year a family-run syndicate celebrated a massive win when they scooped the $148 million US Powerball jackpot on a ticket purchased from E's Country Store North on Immokalee Road in Naples, Florida.

Arizona Pick Lottery Winner Picks up their Prize

The person who won the $1.1 million Arizona Pick jackpot on Saturday has come forward to claim their prize, but opted to remain anonymous. The Arizona Lottery announced the news on Monday, and stated the winner is a player from Gilbert.

The winner opted to take their prize as a one-off lump-sum payment of $687,500 before state and federal taxes and the timing of the win could not have been better because the winner celebrates their birthday this week.

Karen Bach, director of budget, products and communications for the Arizona Lottery said: "It was a fantastic early birthday present to the latest winner of Arizona's own jackpot game. It's exciting that Arizona has had three The Pick jackpot winners since June 25, we look forward to more winners in the future."

Bach may not have to wait long. The Wednesday night Arizona Pick drawing is just hours away and the estimated jackpot is $1 million.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Fifth Euromillions Rollover on Tuesday

No tickets matched the five main numbers and two Lucky Stars required to win Tuesday's €49.3 million Euromillions jackpot so the prize will rollover for a fifth time.

The Euromillions numbers drawn on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, were 8, 18, 22, 24, and 27. The two Lucky Stars were 4 and 11.

Seven ticket-holders won second tier prizes of €155,893 for matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star.

Eleven players lucked out on Lucky Stars, but were awarded third tier prizes of €33,068 for matching five main numbers.

Forty-four players won €4,133 for matching four main numbers and two lucky stars, and 2,017,522 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Friday, July 11, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €60 million (£47 million).

Hoosier Lottery Battles Lotto Scammers

The Hoosier Lottery has been busy warning potential victims about an elaborate scam that utilizes recordings taken from their helpline to trick people into believing they are talking to genuine lottery officials.

Initial contact is made by letter or e-mail and states the recipient has won the lottery and provides a toll-free number.  If the recipient calls the number they are treated to a recording of the real Indiana Lottery hotline before being pumped for personal information and coerced into paying money to pay release fees for a bogus prize.

The scam is not restricted to Indiana. The American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries has already issued a nationwide bulletin that warns about the scam.

Kentucky Lottery officials first became aware of the scam in June. Lottery spokesperson Chip Polston said: "This one is really taking it up a notch and I think that's why a lot of us are really concerned with this because they are stealing material from the Hoosier Lottery to give it a certain air of legitimacy."

It is believed the scammers have recently replaced the recording with one taken from the Minnesota Lottery helpline.

Dublin Man's Luck Changes for the Better

A down on his luck Dubliner, who was so broke he nearly had to sell his home, saw his finances come up to scratch on Friday, July 4, 2014, when he won €500,000 on a National Lottery Ireland "All Cash Extravaganza" scratchcard.

The winner claimed his prize yesterday. He has chosen to remain anonymous, but National Lottery Ireland says he bought his lucky ticket from the Applegreen service station on the M1 at Lusk in County Dublin.

Speaking to lottery representatives he said, "I'd been lucky a few weeks ago on a scratch card when I'd won €1,000, so I thought I'd try my luck again with the same one."

His luck held true and he scooped the largest prize ever to be won on a National Lottery Ireland scratchcard.

"This means so much as it really brings peace of mind for me and my family," he said. "I nearly sold our home a few months ago, and now I can pay off the mortgage and credit cards."

Recalling the day he won, the man admitted his excited state had caused him to misread his ticket.

"I took it home and showed it to my wife and she pointed out that it was €500,000, not €50,000!" he said.

When the father-of-four shared the good news with the rest of his family some members were not so easily convinced and his young daughter asked:  "Are you sure that's not a dud dad?"

As for his plans for the future the lucky winner has already applied to renew his passport and his wife is busy planning a family holiday.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Walsall Winner Claims Euromillions Prize

A UK Euromillions player from Walsall who won £250,000 on May 30, 2014, finally came forward and claimed their prize last week.

A National Lottery spokesperson said: "We’re delighted that the winner of this amazing prize has now come forward and we hope that they will enjoy their win. It would have been awful if the ticket-holder had missed out on this substantial and life-changing amount of money."

The winner has opted to remain anonymous.

The next Euromillions draw will be held tomorrow evening at 22:00 (CET) and four rollovers have pumped up the pot somewhat so the estimated jackpot is €49 million (£38 million).

National Lottery Support for York Theatre Royal

The Theater Royal in York has been successful in its bid for lottery funding and will receive £2.9 million from Arts Council England to go towards the £4.1 million redevelopment.

The theater will need to close for eight months next year while the work is carried out.

In a combined statement, Chief Executive Liz Wilson and Artistic Director Damian Cruden said: "We are very grateful for this investment from Arts Council England, which shows a real commitment to the City and the future of our organization." 

Arts Council England combines funds provided by the government with monies from UK National Lottery Good Causes and invests it in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people's lives. Between 2011 and 2015 they expect to invest £2.4 billion in a variety of projects. The National Lottery's contribution has been estimated at £1 billion.

County Clare Player Scoops Irish Lotto Jackpot

The National Lottery Ireland has revealed Saturday's €4.4m Irish Lotto jackpot was won on a ticket bought at Reddan’s Store and Post Office in Sixmilebridge, County Clare.

The ticket was purchased on Friday, but store owners Patsy and Tony Reddan have no idea who the lucky winner may be.

Their daughter, Kate, said: "We have had no indication who the winner might be and we might never know. They mightn't have checked their ticket yet or they could just decide to remain anonymous. This is our biggest win yet and there’s great excitement around the place."

The Reddan's previous record was set when a Euromillions player won €430,000 on a ticket bought from their store.

"We’ve also had a few smaller wins like €10,000 on scratchcards but this is the first time we’ve had an actual Lotto jackpot winner," Kate said.

Mayor of Clare and Sixmilebridge John Crowe said: "It was very funny after Mass with everyone looking at each other and asking if they won it."

The winning Irish Lotto numbers drawn on Saturday, July 5, 2014, were 10, 18, 23, 26, 42, and 45. The bonus number was 13.

"Whoever won it, everyone here is delighted for them and we wish them the best of luck," Crowe said.

The next Irish Lotto Drawing is on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €2 million.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Lotto Winner Couldn’t Believe his Luck

Retiree Gary Collicutt, 66, couldn’t believe his luck when he ran his Canada Lotto 649 ticket through a self-checker and discovered he'd who won the Canada Lotto 649 jackpot on June 28, 2014, so he rushed to another store and checked it again.

"I first checked my ticket on the self-checker. I thought I wasn't reading the numbers right. I figured I won CAD$ 500, CAD$ 5,000 or CAD$ 50,000," Collicutt told OLG officials last week. "I went to another store to check the ticket again and the true amount of CAD$ 5 million was verified!"

When asked what his plans were for the money Collicutt said he intends to help out his two children and some extended family.

EX-Priest Wins a Goodly Sum, but Plans to Give it Away

A former holy roller is rolling in cash thanks to $259 million lottery win, but old habits die hard so he intends to donate most of the money to charitable causes.

Tennessee resident, Ray Cockrum, 58, scooped the US Powerball jackpot on Wednesday, June 11, on a ticket he purchased from a Kroger store in Knoxville. He visited the Tennessee Lottery headquarters in Nashville and claimed his prize last Thursday and told lottery officials he plans to give the lion's share of the money to charities and continue to live a simple life. He also stated his intention to start a foundation to benefit the performing arts.

Cockrum used to be a member of Episcopal Society of Saint John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He left the priesthood in 2009 so that he could return to Tennessee and administer to the needs of his elderly parents, but believes the time he spent serving a higher cause has helped him to remain level-headed about the win.

"I really believe the best way to prepare for this tsunami of cash has been to live under a vow of poverty for a number of years," Cockrum said. "It gives great perspective."

Cockrum opted to take the prize as a one-off, lump-sum payment of $115 million.

"I have received great counsel, and I will continue working very hard to make sure every single penny of this prize is a blessing to anyone it touches," he said.

The US Powerball is a multi-state draw that offers a minimum jackpot of $40 million. Numbers are drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 22:59 (EST). The next drawing is on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The estimated jackpot is $122 million.

Saturday Night Rollover for UK Lotto Players

No tickets matched the six main numbers necessary to win the £3.7 million jackpot in the UK National Lottery Lotto drawing on Saturday, July 5, 2014, so the jackpot will rollover to Wednesday's drawing.

Last night's winning lotto numbers were 08, 15, 23, 24, 28, and 34. The bonus number was 09.

Five ticket-holders matched five winning numbers and the bonus ball, to win second tier prize of £59,520, and 313 ticket-holders won £807 for matching five numbers. A further £8,629,436 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Wednesday, July 9, 2014, Lotto drawing has an estimated jackpot of £5.2 million.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Big Lottery Funding for Hampshire Theatre Company

The UK National Lottery's Big Lottery Fund has awarded a £293,500 grant to the Blue Apple Theater in Hampshire—a charity that organizes theater and dance classes for adult actors who have learning difficulties.

Allocated via the Big Lottery's Reaching Communities project the grant will be used to fund extra classes and pay for an administrative manager.

Blue Apple Theatre's present classes are held at the Tower Arts Center at King's School, Winchester, with further classes being provided at The Discovery Center and, if the new funds stretch that far, the charity it is hoping to expand its reach to areas outside the city.

Blue Apple Theatre was formed by Jane Jessop in 2005. Her son Tommy, 29, is the first British actor with Down's syndrome to star in a BBC prime time TV Show.  Tommy starred alongside Nicholas Hoult in the BAFTA nominated BBC Drama Coming Down the Mountain.

Blue Apple Theater's present membership consists of 70 actors. Their most recent production was Tales from the Arabian Nights, performed last weekend at the Theater Royal Winchester.

On hearing the application for funding had been successful Blue Apple's chairman Paul Lewis said: "This money will allow us to consolidate what we do. We have a long waiting list of people who want to take part. A lot of people with learning difficulties are segregated from society; for quite a few of our members coming to our sessions once or more a week is a big event in their lives."

Each year the Big Lottery distributes 40% of the money the UK National Lottery set aside for good causes. The money is used to provide assistance to community groups and projects that are believed to have a positive impact on health education and the environment.

Saturday Night Powerball Jackpot Tops $100 Million

Tonight's US Powerball drawing has an estimated jackpot is $101 million. With a stack of cash like that on offer there should be a few extra players dipping their toes in the water and hoping tonight's numbers are a match for the ones on their ticket.

The present jackpot has been building for nearly month. The last big win was on June 11, when a player in Tennessee won nearly $257 million.

The Florida Lotto jackpot has also been building for a while. The last jackpot win was on May 21, 2014. There's been a lot of rollovers since then, the pot has been gradually growing, and tonight's drawing has an estimated jackpot of $3 million.

Friday's Euromillions Draw Ends in a Rollover

There was a Fourth Euromillions rollover on Friday night, so the draw failed to produce any new Euromillionaires.

Four lucky players won second tier prizes of €385,460 for matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star. A second Lucky Star would have scooped last night's €42 million, none of the players managed to stretch their luck that far.

Five players had no Lucky Stars, but were awarded €102,789 prizes for matching five main numbers. Forty-seven players won €5,467 for matching four main numbers and two lucky stars, and 2,293,964 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The Euromillions numbers drawn on Friday, July 4, 2014, were 04, 18, 39, 43, and 47. The two Lucky Stars were 02 and 06.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €49 million (£38 million).

Friday, July 4, 2014

Gas Station Sells Winning Ticket and Starts Filling up with Extra Customers

On January 1, 2014, someone walked into the South Shore Shell gas station in League City, Texas, bought a ticket for Lotto Texas drawing later that evening, and won the $12 million jackpot. The winner never claimed their prize, but station owner Shawn Mohammed says business has been booming ever since his establishment was linked to such a big win.

All year customers have been digging out their old tickets and bringing them in to be double-checked and Mohammed has noticed a steady rise in sales.

"Here’s the thing," Mohammed said. "People were searching their homes upside down for a ticket they might have not bought to see if that was the one."

One day a customer came in with over 100 old tickets.

"She could have gotten them checked anywhere, but she had to come to us," Mohammed pointed out. "It’s been quite fun sometimes and it also gives people hope."

The winner has lost their prize for good. The claim deadline expired on Monday, but Mohammad will still receive a $121,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket and he has a theory about why the prize was never claimed. "My personal guess is that they left it in their jeans, washed it or sent it to the dry cleaners and probably lost it like that," he said.

Mohammed plans to use his retailer's bonus to fund store improvements and maintenance and is even considering splashing out on some new gas pumps.

Over Six Million Reasons to Smile

A database administrator from Oshawa, Ontario, was all smiles on Monday when he was presented with a large ceremonial check.

Scott Mater, 49, won almost CAD$ 7 million in the Canada Lotto 649 drawing held on June 4, 2014. He was one of two lucky players who successfully matched the six winning numbers and earned a share of the CAD$ 13.9 million jackpot.

Speaking of the day he bought his winning ticket, Mater admitted his incredible good luck was built on the back of a more modest win.

"I won money on some instant lottery tickets so I bought a Lotto 6/49 ticket with three lines and Encore," Mater said.

When asked about his plans for the money Mater said a new car was top of the list and stated he planned to invest some of the money and share the rest with family members.

Oz Lotto Winner Still to Come Forward

Someone in Perth, Australia, became AUD$ 10 million richer on Tuesday night when their ticket matched all seven of the main numbers drawn in the Oz Lotto drawing, but the winner must be either ignorant of their win or too shocked to do anything about it because Lotterywest officials are still waiting for the ticket-holder to come forward.

Lottery spokesperson Pina Compagnone said Tuesday's jackpot is the second largest prize to be won on a Western Australian ticket this year. The largest prize so far was scooped by a couple from Perth's suburbs, who won AUD$ 15 million in April.

The next Oz Lotto Drawing is on Tuesday. July 8, 2014. The estimated jackpot is AUD$ 2 million.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Connecticut Lottery Retailer Accused of Ticket Tampering

A lottery retailer in Weston Connecticut has been suspended from selling tickets due to allegations of ticket tampering.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer protection (DCP) claims Weston Hardware and Housewares co-owner Furkan Kudia violated the administrative regulations of the Connecticut State Lottery by pre-punching lottery tickets to check they were non-winners before selling them to his customers.

Kudia has acknowledged a "mistake" had been made with the Connecticut Lottery's $2 "5 Card Cash" tickets.

The 5 Card Cash game has a double feature that allows player the chance of an instant win as well as the chance to win a prize in a daily draw-type game. In a statement made shortly after the allegations of tampering were made Kudia said: "It was just a mistake, and we know what to do now."

After a hearing in May 2014, Kudia was asked to show good cause why his license to sell Connecticut Lottery tickets should not be suspended or revoked and, according to the DCP, the hearing officer recommended Kudia's license should be revoked.

Copies of the DCP's proposed decision were given to Kudia and his attorney and if the licensee wishes to present briefs, file exceptions, or request an oral argument with the DPC commissioner he must do so before Monday, July 7, 2014.

The Weston Hardware store is the only lottery retailer in the town of Weston and has previously sold several major prize-winning tickets including a $1 million Mega Millions ticket, in December 2013.

Canadian Lotto Winner faces a Taxing Situation

A Canadian lottery winner is considering taking the tax man to court over a disputed tax bill.

In 1999 Howard Pashlin of Dollard-des-Ormeaux in Montreal won a Lotto 649 prize of CAD$10 million.

Two years ago Revenue Quebec presented him with tax bill of CAD$ 100,000 and Pashlin made arrangement to pay. Now the revenue service states he owes taxes of CAD$ 1 million, but Pashlin says the bill has been calculated on third-party checks that passed through his bank account between 2008 and 2010.

Pashlin states he has affidavits that testify the money was not his, but Revenue Quebec auditors appear unwilling to take the documents into account.

One Ticket Scoops Wednesday's UK Lotto Jackpot

One lucky ticket holder successfully matched all six of last night's UK National Lottery Lotto numbers and scooped the £2.8 million jackpot, but no tickets matched five winning numbers and the bonus ball, so there were no second tier winners.

Eighty-three ticket-holders won £2,158 for matching five numbers, and a further £3,636,738 was distributed in smaller prizes to lower tier winners.

The winning UK Lotto numbers drawn on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, were 01, 18, 20, 38, 43, and 48. The bonus number was 42.

UK National Lottery Lotto drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Saturday, July 5, 2014, drawing has an estimated jackpot of £4.2 million.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Powerball Win was the Result of a Long-Term Investment

After 26 years of buying lottery tickets on a daily basis, Dave Resnick, 52, could be described as a dedicated player.  All those years of dedication finally paid off last week when Dave won a second tier prize of $1 million in the Wednesday night US Powerball drawing.

Dave bought his winning ticket from the Q Mart on Weeden Creek Road, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and returned there on Monday to be presented with his prize. After state and federal taxes, his 26-year investment has netted him $673,500.

When asked if he planned to continue playing the lottery Dave said: "Why not? Everybody else does."

Hoosier Lottery Ticket Sales Reach a Record High

The Hoosier Lottery's partnership with the GTECH Corporation has already proved to be a profitable one for the state of Indiana. In an announcement made on Monday the lottery reported ticket sales in excess of $1 billion for the last 12 months—the highest amount in the lottery's 25 year history.

The newly announced figures are a vast improvement on the previous  record of $934 million, achieved in fiscal year 2013, and the present unprecedented level of sales is good news for the citizens of Indiana because the lottery's contribution to the state will also increase for the fiscal  year 2014. The present figures indicate ticket sales should support a payment in excess of $248 million.

Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Sarah Taylor said: "The Hoosier Lottery experienced a remarkable year, and our record contribution to the State of Indiana underscores our commitment to maximizing revenue in a socially responsible way. We now have two consecutive years of record surplus revenue to the State and that's a win for everyone."

The lottery and GTECH may be a winning combination for Hoosiers, but it is still unclear whether GTECH will lose out on the deal.

The books will not be closed until Thursday, July 3, and the figures are unlikely to be audited until September, but the projected sales for the fiscal year are $1.019 billion. When GTECH teamed up with the lottery, in October 2012, the company was anticipating sales of $1.056 billion and promised to deliver a payment of $256 million to the state. If sales do not support that figure GTECH 's contract with the State requires GTECH pay the shortfall from their own funds.

Third Euromillions Rollover Last Night

There was a third Euromillions rollover last night, so the €31.7 million jackpot will rollover to Friday.

The Euromillions numbers drawn on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, were 18, 22, 25, 27, and 39. The Lucky stars were 05 and 10.

Last night's biggest winners were the three lucky players who won second tier prizes of €346,045 for matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star.

Seven players were awarded third tier prizes of €49,435 for matching five main numbers.

Forty-two players won €4,119 for matching four main numbers and two Lucky Stars, and 1,779,787 Euromillions players were awarded smaller prizes from the lower tiers.

The next Euromillions drawing is on Friday, July 4, 2014. The estimated jackpot is €41million (£33 million).

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Best Present Ever!

A woman from Brinston in Ontario, who bought an extra ticket for Canada Lotto 649 drawing on June 18, 2014, to celebrate her 48th wedding anniversary had an extra reason to celebrate when the ticket won a Guaranteed CAD$ 1 million prize. She was picked up her prize on Thursday last week.

Rita Cooper, 78, checked her ticket at a local truck stop and couldn't believe her luck when she learned how much she'd won.

"I was so shocked I had to hang on to the counter for dear life!" Rita told staff at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto and recalled the moment she broke the news to her husband.

"I gave him a kiss and told him ‘That’s the first time you’ve been kissed by a millionaire!'" she said.

Supermarket Donates Retailer Bonus to Charity

Officials from the Tennessee Lottery visited the Kroger supermarket in Knoxville last Friday and took a $25,000 check along for the ride. The supermarket sold the ticket that won the $259.8 million US Powerball jackpot on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, and the check was the supermarket's bonus payment for selling a winning ticket.

Kroger officials greeted their visitors, took one look at the check, and said they were having none of it,  telling their astonished guests they intended to donate the entire amount to five local charities: the Teacher's Supply Depot, Love Kitchen, Cystic Fibrosis, Children's Hospital, and Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

Store manager Melissa Eads said: "It didn't really take us long to decide that we need to give the money back to the Knoxville community. There's so many worthwhile organizations, worthwhile charities, and so many that we've already supported and worked with for years."

According to the Tennessee Lottery, this is the first time a retailer has donated their entire bonus to charitable causes.

The lucky ticket-holder who won the jackpot earlier this month has yet to come forward.

To win the US Powerball Jackpot players need to match all five winning numbers and the Powerball. No players managed to achieve this at the weekend so Saturday's $80 million jackpot will rollover. The next drawing is on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 22:59 (Eastern Time). The estimated jackpot is $90 million.

Arizona Pick Jackpot Scooped for the Second Time in a Week

The Arizona Lottery has announced Saturday's $1 million Pick Jackpot was won by a ticket purchased from Safeway on Highway 89 in Flagstaff.

Saturday's draw produced the second jackpot win in a week. Last Wednesday's $1.3 million jackpot was scooped by a player from Oro Valley.

Arizona Lottery spokesperson Karen Bach said: "We look forward to meeting this week’s second jackpot winner. It is always exciting when there is a top prize-winning ticket sold for Arizona’s own jackpot game, let alone two jackpot winning tickets in one week."

The winning Arizona Pick Lottery numbers drawn on Saturday, June 28, 2014, were 03, 06, 20, 32, 34 and 39.

The next Arizona Pick drawing is on Wednesday, July 02. The estimated jackpot is $1 million.