A Melbourne, Australia, man is $46.6 million richer after winning the lotto not once, but twice.
The blue-collar worker from St Albans in the city's north-west was stunned after he was informed that two of the three winning entries for the $70 million Oz Lotto prize on Tuesday night were registered to him.
The man had marked both entries with the same numbers, which he has been doing for three decades.
"When we reached out to the division one winner from Melbourne to let him know he'd won this massive prize he was completely oblivious to the fact he'd won not once, but twice," said the Lotto spokeswoman Bronwyn Spencer.
"Quite remarkably, the Melbourne man didn't realize he'd bought two entries, he thought he'd bought an entry for a different lottery draw. But because he marks his entries, he marked them with the same numbers that came out of the barrel tonight which meant he won division one twice."
Oz Lotto attempted to call the man several times on Tuesday night but couldn't get through.
When he eventually answered, he said he had just finished work and was checking the draw results online.
"You're kidding... Am I seeing things?" he said.
"I just checked my entry online and I think I know what you're about to tell me.
"I'm speechless. I can't believe it. I just finished work for the night."
The man said he had been playing the same marked numbers for 30 years.
"I play every week. I have always marked my entries but I have never chosen the numbers on anything in particular. They weren't special before, but they are now," he said.
The man said he needed time to think about how he would use his double division one prize.
"I need time for the news to register," he said.
"I might think about retiring. First maybe a new home or a holiday. I'll definitely share it with my family."
The man bought two separate entries at two different lottery outlets: one in Footscray, the other in St Albans.
Ms. Spencer said the man would have spent roughly $30,000 over the last three decades by entering every Tuesday, however he would have likely had some small winnings over the years.
The third winning entry, which was purchased in Hobart, is yet to be claimed.
It was purchased at Hobart City Lotto, Shop 2, Wellington Centre, 40-44 Argyle Street, Hobart.
It was unregistered, meaning the Lott was unable to contact the purchaser. "That's why we are encouraging all Hobart players to check their tickets as they may be a winner," said Ms Spencer.
Last year, the winner of a $55 million Powerball prize came forward just days before the money was due to be sent to the revenue office.
The individual came forward to claim their prize 175 days after purchasing their unregistered ticket from Scole Lotto & News in Barkly Square in Brunswick, in Melbourne's inner-north.
Thanks to dannyct for the tip.
OMG!!!! I’m trying to win once and he has won twice. Very well played and good for him. It was meant for him. Congratulations to him.
Persistence and Consistency!
Congrats on the double win!
I have heard that some people play their numbers twice so they can collect a double share of the prize should s/he and others win.
Anonymity and tax free and winning twice? WTG rich fellow.
Who cares if he spent $30K to get there, he did and that's all that matters.
"When we reached out to the division one winner from Melbourne to let him know he'd won this massive prize he was completely oblivious to the fact he'd won not once, but twice,"
So much for anonymity, how did the lottery know he won even once?
The story says he thought the second ticket was for the next drawing so even if he validated the first ticket, how would the lottery know he bought the second ticket with the same numbers?
i am happy for him, but your post is interesting stack.
good luck with your #s lotto games yourself this week.
Doesn't Australia offer a lottery, like Sweden does, through a subscription? It seems to me like he had to put his information on the back of the ticket for it to be drawn and not subscription for this lottery game.
"The third winning entry, which was purchased in Hobart, is yet to be claimed.
It was purchased at Hobart City Lotto, Shop 2, Wellington Centre, 40-44 Argyle Street, Hobart.
It was unregistered, meaning the Lott was unable to contact the purchaser. "That's why we are encouraging all Hobart players to check their tickets as they may be a winner," said Ms Spencer."
Apparently, when they buy lottery tickets, they can register the ticket.
This must be like what Bleudog101 said and they put their contact info on the ticket somehow.
That's the only way I can think of that the Lott was able to contact him and not the other winner.
What say ye Todd?
$46.6 Australian dollars tax free richer!!
I don't know if he actually made a mistake or if he's actually a calculating genius. If he had just played one drawing presumably he would have had to split the winnings 50/50 with the other person, but because he played twice, he actually ends up with 66.7% of the pot instead of 50%. I could see this leading to a rule change where the same person can only win once on a drawing regardless of how many winning entries, because you could end up in a situation where one person could win 90% of the jackpot and leave the other one with 10% for example.
I'm happy for anybody winning something especially $46 million. Good luck to you too.
were registered to him.
It looks like you're correct about a subscription or a type of game where players have to register their plays. Might be similar to playing Online in KY.
"I could see this leading to a rule change where the same person can only win once on a drawing"
I can see pigs flying, but only in an alternate reality.
Congrats