A Port Stephens retiree has claimed a $700,000 Lotto win a week after his numbers were drawn.
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The man, who has not been identified, was one of the six division one winners in Saturday Lotto draw 3763 on August 12, each of whom took home a prize of $716,806.11.
In addition to landing a division one win, the Port man’s marked System 7 entry also won divisional prizes, bolstering his total windfall to $723,182.31.
The winning ticket was bought from New Lambton Newsagency.
However, as it was unregistered, NSW Lotteries had no way to contact the winner.
Speaking to NSW Lotteries on Monday morning to confirm his win, the ecstatic man described the moment of disbelief when he realised his ticket had the six winning numbers.
“I went on the computer and it gave me the numbers,” he said.
“I took my glasses off, wiped them and put them on again.
“I couldn’t believe it. It’s just wonderful.”
The man had been oblivious to his division one win throughout the last week,.
It was only when he went to buy his next Saturday Lotto ticket, for August 19, that he realised he had won.
“I had this winning ticket at home the whole time,” he said.
“What I do is I purchase a ticket and then the following Saturday I check it before buying the next one.
“I never check my ticket the next day, I never do.”
With the win still sinking in, the man admitted he did not yet know what he is going to do with the windfall, but was adamant he would not be making any rash decisions.
“At this point in time, I’m going to put it aside and think about it,” he said with a laugh.
New Lambton Newsagency owner Debbie Mannix said she was overjoyed the mystery winner had been found and united with their prize.
She said it was the first division one winning entry her newsagency had sold since she took ownership seven years ago.
“The last nine days have been really stressful,” she said.
“It’s been more stressful for us – just waiting and waiting.
“We’re so happy the winner has been found.
“He was so excited and so lovely.
“I really wanted to congratulate him.
“The win has been on the lips of everyone coming in our doors – all day, every day – so it’s good the mystery has been solved.”
The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 3763 were 7, 11, 45, 14, 16 and 26. The supplementary numbers were 34 and 35.
Across Australia there were six division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 3763, including three from Victoria, one from South Australia, one from NSW (the Port Stephens man), and one from Queensland.
Last financial year, there were 275 division one winning Saturday Lotto entries across the Lott’s jurisdictions, which collectively won more than $283 million.
The Lott’s division one winning tally has now reached 267 so far this calendar year, including 76 won by NSW Lotteries customers.
The retiree’s win comes after a Caringbah electrician claimed $1 million in Keno during a work trip to Port Stephens in July.
The 52-year-old sparky bought his winning ticket from Wests Nelson Bay Diggers.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
