A Darwin man is ready to 'sink a few beers' to celebrate today discovering he won almost a million dollars in the weekend's TattsLotto draw.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The man held one of the four division one winning entries nationally in TattsLotto on Saturday night winning $979,483.89.
Speaking with a Tatts official this afternoon to confirm his prize, the hardworking man admitted he had no idea he had won division one until he went into his local newsagency.
"Woo! Oh man," he laughed.
"S**t yeah! I am still trying to get it through my head.
"I am pinching myself! It needs to sink in.
"I thought I had won maybe $13.50 but then my ticket wouldn't scan and the ladies surprised the hell out of me and told me I'd won!
"I thought I was going to pass out. I had tears in my eyes, and I gave them big hugs.
"It's unreal!
"I told my friend just before and he couldn't stop laughing. He said a lot of colourful words!"
The regular player explained how he has been playing the same numbers for years.
"I buy from the same store, I play the same games and I use the same numbers every time," he admitted.
"The numbers are a mixture of my jersey numbers from when I played footy and then there are a few numbers that I just randomly picked in there too.
"I've been playing these numbers for a few years now.
"I am just glad the division one prize was shared between four people and we all have won almost $1 million. It's nice to think we are all celebrating a big win right now."
When asked how he planned to use his prize, the happy man shared while he did need time to think about it, he would be looking to purchase a home.
"I'll definitely buy a place. Maybe a unit, nothing too big," he declared.
"I will speak to my mum and some friends to get some advice on what to do with it so I use it wisely.
"As soon as I am finished here I am going to be going home to sink a few beers to celebrate!"
The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased his winning entry in Nightcliff.
Nightcliff Newsagency owner Tracey-Ann Chin said her and her team were "over the moon" at having sold a division one winning entry.
"When I found out yesterday, I was so excited I went and woke my husband and children up to tell them the wonderful news that we had sold a division one winning ticket," she said
"One thing is for sure we will be celebrating this win! The feeling of knowing you have sold a division one winning ticket and that you have changed the life of someone and their family is indescribable.
"When the winner checked his ticket - he cried, we cried, everyone cried. We are thrilled to be celebrating this win along with this lucky person."
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
