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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | $13m Lotto winner having trouble sleeping International: $13m Lotto winner having trouble sleepingA New Zealand man is having trouble sleeping after belatedly finding out he won $13.1 million in a Lotto draw last week. The ticket for the Big Wednesday first division prize, the third biggest win in New Zealand lotteries, was sold at a Four Square in Thames but remained unclaimed until the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, took it into a Lotto shop to get it checked. "I had absolutely no idea that I'd won anything until I went and got the ticket checked and when it went through the machine the lottery operator gave me the strangest look. "They took me to another part of the store and told me that I'd won the big one." The man will get $11,241,184 in cash plus $1,578,940 in prizes, including cars, a holiday home and overseas travel. "I haven't been sleeping — all these things keep racing around in my head. "It's just so much money to win and there's so much to think about," he said. "I'm going to put it in the bank for a while and think about it, and then decide what I'll do, but family will definitely be the main beneficiary." The man was not a regular ticket buyer, but got his "act together" prompted by the size of last week's draw. "I heard about the draw and that that big prize had been won by a ticket sold in Thames, but I had my ticket stuck in the back of my wallet and wasn't in any hurry to get it checked." The largest ever lotteries win in New Zealand was a Powerball prize of $15.2 million in September 2005, followed by a $14.7 million Powerball win in April 2004. Stuff.co.nz
United States Member #24379 October 21, 2005 623 Posts Offline | This is really a super story! And the clerks were so discrete. That was real respect! Now that is what I call a fantastic lottery, with cash and prizes. I believe there is a chance for the USA Lottery I dream of that would include all states and the benefit would be primarily for US disasters; and a specified portion for world disasters. | | |
kent, washington United States Member #3509 January 26, 2004 465 Posts Offline | how can they call it powerball. doesn't the company here have some kind of copyright or they sold the name to the new zealanders? | | |
PA United States Member #22982 October 6, 2005 2229 Posts Offline | Scary, I don't sleep now and never have really for the most part. I have always been an extreme insomniac. I actually believe that if I hit the lottery for such a large amount that I would actually then be able to sleep better, as opposed to not being able to sleep. Most of my worries would be over, and all I would have to deal with was the whole lottery scene for a few weeks until it all blew over. Then my real paradise could begin. Financial worries is usually the main culprit when it comes to sleep deprivation for me. | | |
Palatine, IL United States Member #734 September 24, 2002 61 Posts Offline | Ya that WAS very cool and classy for the clerk to take them aside like that. New Zealand seems so cool. Like London with great weather! Cash AND Prizes! Now there's an idea who's time is long expired here in IL. Good for him. He sounds like a real down-to-earth nice guy. -Curt Little Lotto King | | |
Sparta, NJ United States Member #18330 July 9, 2005 1977 Posts Offline | I feel tonight will be my last good nights sleep before December. When I win tonight, I will be in a "go-mode" for a long time. Going from being in debt, to being a multimillionaire! WOW! I'll probably need a hundred Ambien! 
|||::> *'`*:-.,_,.-:*''*:--->>> Chewie <<<---.*''*:-.,_,.-:*''* <:::||| I only trust myself - and that's a questionable choice | | |
Atlanta United States Member #15988 May 24, 2005 183 Posts Offline | Chewie, I can always count on you for some sort of laugh, and/ or thought provoking comment. Good luck to you. | | |
United States
Member #23805
October 16, 2005
188 Posts
Offline
| Congratulations to that man. | | |
Wandering Aimlessly United States Member #25359 November 5, 2005 4461 Posts Offline | Scary, I don't sleep now and never have really for the most part. I have always been an extreme insomniac. I actually believe that if I hit the lottery for such a large amount that I would actually then be able to sleep better, as opposed to not being able to sleep. Most of my worries would be over, and all I would have to deal with was the whole lottery scene for a few weeks until it all blew over. Then my real paradise could begin. Financial worries is usually the main culprit when it comes to sleep deprivation for me. It's 2 in the morning and I'm worried I won't be able to get up in a few hours for a meeting. So I signed onto this board and saw this article. Guess what? I was going to write the same thing you did. Although financial worries are a big factor, I wouldn't say they are the main cause for me. I get job offers and then I'm worried I won't be able to travel or sleep in a hotel or make it through the training because I collapse from exhaustion or my brain turns to mush after nights with no sleep. However, I agree with you that having a lot of money would take most of the anxiety away. Hope you find a solution and get some peaceful rest soon. | | |
Australia
Member #17095
June 11, 2005
225 Posts
Offline
| The ticket for the Big Wednesday first division prize, the third biggest win in New Zealand lotteries, was sold at a Four Square in Thames but remained unclaimed until the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, took it into a Lotto shop to get it checked. "wishes to remain anonymous" - that should be every lottery winners right! | | |
Australia
Member #17095
June 11, 2005
225 Posts
Offline
| By the way - all lottery prize money is tax free in New Zealand. | | |
Tennessee United States Member #7853 October 15, 2004 11352 Posts Offline | By the way - all lottery prize money is tax free in New Zealand. wish we could say the same here........ | | |
Australia
Member #17095
June 11, 2005
225 Posts
Offline
| Did you know you can plays New Zealand lottery games by subscription? There are no residency requirements. The following e-mail I received, after I requested information on subscriptions. Thanks for your email request for an information/starter pack.
I have referred it to Chris Archer in our Commercial Operations team and
I am sure that someone in her team will send this information to you promptly.
Regards
Helen Morgan-Banda
New Zealand Lotteries Commission
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Australia
Member #17095
June 11, 2005
225 Posts
Offline
| The e-mail address to request an information/starter pack is: Helen.Morgan-Banda@NZLC.co.nz GOOD LUCK! | | |
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