Tamworth Lotto winner claims prize

After a couple of days of excitement when it could have been anyone’s, the winner has been identified only as a retired local man.

He’s won just over $1 million in Saturday Lotto, making it the second million-plus claim in just over two months from a ticket purchased at Memories Newsagency in Tamworth Square.

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The man, who wanted to stay anonymous, told a NSW Lotteries official he’d checked his unregistered ticket at home yesterday morning but didn’t initially realise he’d won.

“I pulled the ticket out of my wallet yesterday morning to have a look and I had the local paper with the results,” he said.

He thought the numbers listed didn’t match his, “but after lunch I thought I’d double-check – just in case there was a small prize in there”.

“I started off and saw I’d got three numbers but then kept going and the whole six numbers were there.”

The regular Lotto player said he’d used family birthdates for his entry, and he “couldn’t believe it and I still can’t believe it”.

“I’ve had a bit of luck lately with other entries and little prizes,” he said.

“I’ve had little run, but now this. This is the pinnacle.

“I’ve got a family, so I’ll use this to help them out a bit.”

Newsagency owner Dean Finlay said he couldn’t believe it, either, when told his shop had sold another big winner.

Memories also sold a Saturday Lotto division-one winner on March 24, which went unclaimed until April 3.

“I never would have thought we’d have sold another one,” he said.

“It’s great that the money’s gone to a local man … he is very, very, very happy – obviously.”