Aussie dad wins $8million Lotto jackpot on his birthday: ‘This is mind-boggling’
An Australian father has won AU$8 million in the Oz Lotto after purchasing his winning ticket online through The Lott. He held the sole division one winning entry nationally in draw 1699, and the win fell on his birthday, adding to the surprise when officials finally reached him.
The Lott's officials initially struggled to reach the winner on Wednesday morning as he was at work, and he was left stunned once the call came through, calling the moment "mind-boggling". He said he planned to keep the news from his wife until he finished work so he could tell her in person, joking he would need to buy champagne first. He added that the win came at a welcome time, having faced recent health struggles, and said he intends to use the money to support his family.
- Australian man wins AU$8 million Oz Lotto jackpot on his birthday
- He held the only division one winning entry nationally
- Plans to use winnings to help family after recent health struggles
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Australians can enter Oz Lotto, a national lottery run by The Lott, in the hope of winning a division one prize, which is the top tier and can run into millions of dollars. Tickets can be bought in person or online, and winners are identified by the entry they hold rather than by name, so lottery officials often have to track people down once a draw closes.
In this case, a father from Australia turned out to be the only person nationally holding the winning division one entry in a specific draw, entitling him to the full AU$8 million prize. Such wins are rare enough, and the sums large enough, that they typically prompt lottery operators to publicise the story and interview the winner once contact is made.