Vacationing man wins $1M scratch-off lottery jackpot

Jul 23, 2010, 8:44 am (16 comments)

Connecticut Lottery

Most folks pick up a T-shirt or a mug commemorating their vacation, but Wilman Bravo of Puerto Rico is bringing home a fat wad of green after winning $1 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket.

Bravo, 66, spent 40-plus years raising his three children and working as a press operator in central Connecticut before retiring to Sabana Hoyos, Puerto Rico, last year. He returned to the Constitution State last week to visit his kids.

On Wednesday, Bravo popped into one of his old favorite pit stops, a Cumberland Farms in New Britain. He bought a cup of coffee and two purple-and-green "$100,000,000 Diamond Mine" lottery tickets. A few scritch-scratches later, Bravo experienced a shocking revelation.

"I did a double take," Bravo told CT Lottery officials. "I took off my glasses, looked at the ticket again, cleaned my glasses, and then looked again."

Each time he looked, the ticket read the same amount: $1 million.

Cumberland Farms employees are no longer allowed to speak to the media, but Evelyn Mejia, the clerk who sold him the winning ticket, told WTNH that Bravo was overcome.

"He didn't know how to talk. He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream. There were a couple of customers in here and I said, 'Papi, just relax, you'll be OK,'" Mejia said.

Bravo may have been overwhelmed, but he's had practice winning the lottery. In the 1994, he won $100,000.

The game Bravo won this week boasts promising odds: One in 3.62 scratchers wins a prize. However, the odds of winning $1 million are only one in 1.4 million. Three other lucky players have won the grand prize; six $1 million tickets remain at large.

Diane Patterson, director of communications for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, explained how the game works. "Very simple to play," she told AOL News.

Five silver stars hide "winning numbers." A cache of 20 purple diamonds covers "your numbers." Matching one of your numbers to one of the winning numbers makes for a win.

"He scratched and he matched and he won $1 million dollars," Patterson said.

Bravo chose to take a lump sum rather than payments stretching over two decades. After taxes, his winning check totaled just under $400,000. He'll give some to his children, maybe get a new car and use the rest to pay his mortgage when he returns to Puerto Rico next week.

Bravo's not the only one reaping the profits of a lucky scratch. The lottery rewarded Cumberland Farms with $10,000.

"Our retailers work hard and they also get to share in the wins," Patterson said.

Connecticut wins, too. One hundred percent of lottery profits go to the state. In 2009, the state received $283 million to support schools, libraries, public healthy and safety programs, and more.

Bravo, 66, spent 40-plus years raising his three children and working as a press operator in central Connecticut before retiring to Sabana Hoyos, Puerto Rico, last year. He returned to the Constitution State last week to visit his kids.

On Wednesday, Bravo popped into one of his old favorite pit stops, a Cumberland Farms in New Britain. He bought a cup of coffee and two purple-and-green "$100,000,000 Diamond Mine" lottery tickets. A few scritch-scratches later, Bravo experienced a shocking revelation.

"I did a double take," Bravo told CT Lottery officials. "I took off my glasses, looked at the ticket again, cleaned my glasses, and then looked again."

Each time he looked, the ticket read the same amount: $1 million.

Cumberland Farms employees are no longer allowed to speak to the media, but Evelyn Mejia, the clerk who sold him the winning ticket, told WTNH that Bravo was overcome.

"He didn't know how to talk. He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream. There were a couple of customers in here and I said, 'Papi, just relax, you'll be OK,'" Mejia said.

Bravo may have been overwhelmed, but he's had practice winning the lottery. In the 1994, he won $100,000.

The game Bravo won this week boasts promising odds: One in 3.62 scratchers wins a prize. However, the odds of winning $1 million are only one in 1.4 million. Three other lucky players have won the grand prize; six $1 million tickets remain at large.

Diane Patterson, director of communications for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, explained how the game works. "Very simple to play," she said.

Five silver stars hide "winning numbers." A cache of 20 purple diamonds covers "your numbers." Matching one of your numbers to one of the winning numbers makes for a win.

"He scratched and he matched and he won $1 million dollars," Patterson said.

Bravo chose to take a lump sum rather than payments stretching over two decades. After taxes, his winning check totaled just under $400,000. He'll give some to his children, maybe get a new car and use the rest to pay his mortgage when he returns to Puerto Rico next week.

Bravo's not the only one reaping the profits of a lucky scratch. The lottery rewarded Cumberland Farms with $10,000.

"Our retailers work hard and they also get to share in the wins," Patterson said.

Connecticut wins, too. One hundred percent of lottery profits go to the state. In 2009, the state received $283 million to support schools, libraries, public healthy and safety programs, and more.

Thanks to jackpotismine for the tip.

AOL News, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

THRUST's avatarTHRUST

Sweet win! Thumbs Up

Litebets27's avatarLitebets27

I liked that diamond mine scratcher. I cashed in $100.00 and $75.00 several times.

Congratulations Mr. Bravo. What a great way to win, while on vacation and only after buying two tickets....Thumbs Up

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

That story made me cry.Condradulations to you Maryland winners...

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Congrats to Mr. Bravo on his win!

PERDUE

Enjoy your retirement Mr. Wilman Bravo. Congratulations on your win. May you and all your family members have a long-long life and excellent health to enjoy your winnings.

Congratulations!! Congratulations!! Congratulations!!

tiber's avatartiber

Wow lucky for him he's not an illegal this board will really light upGreen laugh

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Quote: Originally posted by tiber on Jul 23, 2010

Wow lucky for him he's not an illegal this board will really light upGreen laugh

After living here, working here, raising a family here: For 40 years: He retires to His Country! Thud

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by tiber on Jul 23, 2010

Wow lucky for him he's not an illegal this board will really light upGreen laugh

What would be wrong with that?

Just out of curiosity, do you know what the word "illegal" means?

You act like it means something good.

tiber's avatartiber

Quote: Originally posted by Raven62 on Jul 23, 2010

After living here, working here, raising a family here: For 40 years: He retires to His Country! Thud

For people that don't know Puerto Rico is not a country but a commonwealth of the United State

a colony,natural born citizen, in other words American. And proud of itUS Flag

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by tiber on Jul 23, 2010

For people that don't know Puerto Rico is not a country but a commonwealth of the United State

a colony,natural born citizen, in other words American. And proud of itUS Flag

Puerto Rico has been an American Territory since we kicked Spain's @ss and took it away from them in 1898. Truth be told, we should have done the same with Mexico.

We wouldn't be having all these problems now. Puerto Rico developed a thriving economy after we kicked Spain the hell out of there. Mexico has always been a shambles.

We should have taken all of Mexico when Generals Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor were down there kicking Santa Ana's @ss from one end of Mexico to the other.

Oh well, live and learn.

JonnyBgood07's avatarJonnyBgood07

Congrats to the winner!...they promote the hell out of this ticket on tv..

however it disgusts me to no end how they can take 600 grand....If a lottery can't payout a million straight up with or without taxes,then they shouldn't be in buisness....and what I mean by this is how the freak can you institute a "lump sum option " with a scratch ticket anyhow?????...it's only a million effin dollars!! not 100 million..CT lottery is pitiful is all I can say...

 

Bravo chose to take a lump sum rather than payments stretching over two decades. After taxes, his winning check totaled just under $400,000

louise black

BananaMan, oh man that what you call LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1CONGRAT!!!!!!!Party

beaudad's avatarbeaudad

Quote: Originally posted by JonnyBgood07 on Jul 23, 2010

Congrats to the winner!...they promote the hell out of this ticket on tv..

however it disgusts me to no end how they can take 600 grand....If a lottery can't payout a million straight up with or without taxes,then they shouldn't be in buisness....and what I mean by this is how the freak can you institute a "lump sum option " with a scratch ticket anyhow?????...it's only a million effin dollars!! not 100 million..CT lottery is pitiful is all I can say...

 

Bravo chose to take a lump sum rather than payments stretching over two decades. After taxes, his winning check totaled just under $400,000

I agree Jonnyb.....a million is not a million anymore.....I guess you gotta win over a million and 3/4 to win a million....maybe more if you get 800,000 for 2 million then it may be 2.5 million to win a million...........whew !!!!

Litebets27's avatarLitebets27

Quote: Originally posted by JonnyBgood07 on Jul 23, 2010

Congrats to the winner!...they promote the hell out of this ticket on tv..

however it disgusts me to no end how they can take 600 grand....If a lottery can't payout a million straight up with or without taxes,then they shouldn't be in buisness....and what I mean by this is how the freak can you institute a "lump sum option " with a scratch ticket anyhow?????...it's only a million effin dollars!! not 100 million..CT lottery is pitiful is all I can say...

 

Bravo chose to take a lump sum rather than payments stretching over two decades. After taxes, his winning check totaled just under $400,000

Mr. Bravo won $100.000.00 in 1994 and he continues to play. Maybe he'll be as lucky as the woman from Texas that won 4 jackpots and win a few more.

There seems to be a lucky streak going on now days..(how do I get on?)

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