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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Home -> Forums -> Lottery News -> Mistake on lottery ticket would have won $30M jackpot Mistake on lottery ticket would have won $30M jackpot Atlantic Lottery Corporation: Mistake on lottery ticket would have won $30M jackpotRating:Player voids mistake ticket, but it turned out to be the winner A St. John's lottery player may have saved a dozen dollars while cancelling an overcharged lottery ticket, but missed out on a $30 million jackpot. A customer at the Corner Store, a convenience store in the Goulds neighbourhood of St. John's, ordered a $12 ticket on May 21, leading up to that night's Atlantic Lottery Lotto Max jackpot. "The [clerk] printed it off and made a mistake on the machine, and it came out $27. She offered it to the customer and she said, no, she didn't want it," store owner Shawn Noel told CBC News on Thursday. The clerk followed procedure and immediately voided the ticket, meaning that the numbers printed were put back into play. However, no other ticker buyer in Atlantic Canada purchased them, meaning that a $30 million jackpot went unclaimed. "Bad, bad luck," Noel said with a chuckle. "It's nobody's fault. Rules were followed, right to the T. Right by the book." Noel and his store shared in the loss of luck. As the vendor, he would have pocketed one per cent of the prize, or $300,000 or, as he called it, "a nice little chunk" of cash. "[But] I feel bad for the customer. That's a lot to play on your mind. What's 10 or 12 dollars on 30 million?" he said. Jennifer Dalton, a communications official with Atlantic Lottery Corp. in St. John's, said the incident is highly unusual. "It was big news for us, certainly, here around the office," she said Thursday. "To our knowledge, we've never had such a potential of a winning prize, being so large, for a cancelled ticket." Cancelled tickets are actually quite common. Dalton said customers cancel about 52,500 tickets every month, for a variety of reasons. "It's always their choice whether they want to continue with the purchase or not," she said. However, she acknowledged that the jackpot that got away may make some customers think twice when they see a set of numbers that don't meet their initial fancy. "I'm sure there's going to be lots of people out there reconsidering whether they want to cancel tickets," she said.  (Click to display in gallery)
Thanks to Mike from Ottawa for the tip. CBC We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 36 comments. Last comment 2 years ago by .
United States
Member #74282
April 24, 2009
836 Posts
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| | Posted: June 19, 2010, 4:21 pm - IP Logged | |
this is a great example of why you should always buy tickets that are mistakes, well of course if you can afford it. I feel bad for the potential winner. i could not imagine what he/she is going through right now knowing they could have been $30 million richer | | |
CT United States Member #62788 June 23, 2008 49 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 5:39 pm - IP Logged | |
If I cancelled a ticket worth that much I think I'd be sick for the rest of my life. | | |
mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 13458 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 6:10 pm - IP Logged | |
"To our knowledge, we've never had such a potential of a winning prize, being so large, for a cancelled ticket." Cancelled tickets are actually quite common. Dalton said customers cancel about 52,500 tickets every month, for a variety of reasons. Lets see now 52,500 canceled tickets every month, this ticket would have cost $27 but figuring the average cancelled ticket is worth $10, that's 52,500 x $10 x 12 months or $6,300,000 per year in mistakes and this is the first time any one remembers one that would have won the jackpot. Not a very good argument for buying mistakes. Mistakes have about the same chance of winning a jackpot as any other ticket. * THat which happens most *
* is most likely to happen again * 
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Mcminnville, Oregon United States Member #3070 December 13, 2003 1394 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 6:14 pm - IP Logged | |
I like to buy mistake tickets if I have the money to because you never know what might happen.-weshar75 | | |
United States
Member #74282
April 24, 2009
836 Posts
Offline
| | Posted: June 19, 2010, 6:23 pm - IP Logged | |
"To our knowledge, we've never had such a potential of a winning prize, being so large, for a cancelled ticket." Cancelled tickets are actually quite common. Dalton said customers cancel about 52,500 tickets every month, for a variety of reasons. Lets see now 52,500 canceled tickets every month, this ticket would have cost $27 but figuring the average cancelled ticket is worth $10, that's 52,500 x $10 x 12 months or $6,300,000 per year in mistakes and this is the first time any one remembers one that would have won the jackpot. Not a very good argument for buying mistakes. Mistakes have about the same chance of winning a jackpot as any other ticket. yea your right about mistakes having the same chance of hitting as tickets that are not. but seriously... do you want to end up looking like an idiot for not buying a mistake ticket that could be worth millions??? sorry sir but KOBRA want be that guy | | |
Massachusetts United States Member #37842 April 14, 2006 368 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 6:51 pm - IP Logged | |
sweet Refafu! this is the reason I am not pushy. I would have probably took those tickets and forked over the $27...ok maybe not all 27 of them but atleast 12 of them or something. I've done it many times but obviously luck has not been on my side. So far! Maybe tonight I'll be lucky with the powerball jackpot. I'm getting me $10 worth. Some hit but never know it, some will never hit and some will hit and wont even be ready | | |
Idaho United States Member #56982 November 21, 2007 3940 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 7:00 pm - IP Logged | |
If I cancelled a ticket worth that much I think I'd be sick for the rest of my life. I think I would also be quite ill. But then, I've never had to cancel any of my tickets before. "No one remembers the person who almost climbed the mountain, only the person who eventually gets to the top."
ThatScaryChick | | |
Draws in More than One Way Northern Virginia United States Member #83896 December 5, 2009 868 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 10:01 pm - IP Logged | |
Although I do feel bad for the guy, I think his life is going to turn out for the better: my psychological counselor told me about a survey of 21 lottery jackpot winners, and only 1 of the winners said that he was happier after winning the jackpot. Unless I state otherwise, I am referring to numbers in straight order. I cannot predict lottery numbers, except that there will be no winning number tomorrow in Nevada. In a lot of states, lotteries benefit education. That makes the REAL winners the only people who can't play! | | |
st. louis, missouri United States Member #81843 October 16, 2009 2993 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 10:07 pm - IP Logged | |
I would be sick, lol. The store owner looks like he's sick. lol One day, I ran 5 play slips, and I played the winning number, straight. I didn't check my tickets and playslips until I got home, but, I knew I played the winning number. Well, I checked my tickets and my playslips, and the cashier did not run my playslip with the winning number on it , :-( He/she ran one of my playslips twice. I was heated. Any tickets that are a mistake, I purchase, if I have the cash on hand. I was upset over, $600, I would have to be hospitalized for awhile over some Millions. 
It's just one thing, that's got me tripping. 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 | | |
Midlands, SC United States Member #70200 January 14, 2009 278 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 10:11 pm - IP Logged | |
It's probably just that the guy didn't have the money to buy it. Heck...many are just playing with extra money or money they shouldn't be spending in the first place. When you're living paycheck-paycheck....27.00 is a lot of money to spend on a lottery ticket & ESPECIALLY one made by mistake. I've canceled quite a few myself, but luckily none of them have come out. I've also bought the mistakes and still....they never came out. All I can say is Lord, Bless His Heart! | | |
Kennesaw, GA United States Member #62625 June 18, 2008 1053 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 10:12 pm - IP Logged | |
Although I do feel bad for the guy, I think his life is going to turn out for the better: my psychological counselor told me about a survey of 21 lottery jackpot winners, and only 1 of the winners said that he was happier after winning the jackpot. i buy canceled tickets, it actually paid off in the past, although it doesnt happen to me often..and why did those 20 out of 21 end up less happier is because they probably did all the wrong things | | |
United States Member #55554 September 10, 2007 347 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 10:13 pm - IP Logged | |
That would stick with me for the rest of my life if that happend. lol O well, life goes on. | | |
mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 13458 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 10:33 pm - IP Logged | |
That would stick with me for the rest of my life if that happend. lol O well, life goes on. Think how the clerk that made the mistake must feel, if he/she had said my mistake I'll buy it, he/she would be set for life. * THat which happens most *
* is most likely to happen again *
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United States Member #55554 September 10, 2007 347 Posts Offline | | Posted: June 19, 2010, 10:35 pm - IP Logged | |
Think how the clerk that made the mistake must feel, if he/she had said my mistake I'll buy it, he/she would be set for life. I can't even imagine. That is alot of money to be gone. | | |
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