A construction worker from the eastern Missouri town Wentzville had an extra dollar while grocery shopping and decided to buy a Missouri Lotto ticket.
It turned out to be a good choice for David Spitznagel, 49, who matched all six numbers to win $11.6 million in the July 14 drawing. The Missouri Lottery released Spitznagel's name Tuesday.
Spitznagel purchased the winning ticket at a Shop N Save store in O'Fallon. He let the computer randomly generate the winning numbers: 17, 21, 31, 34, 41 and 43.
"I was there and I had an extra dollar when I bought that one," Spitznagel, who works as a boilermaker, said. He didn't know he won until checking the ticket the next day, after hearing the winning ticket was sold at the store.
Spitznagel wasn't sure what he would do with the money, but said he needs a new house.
Shop N Save will receive a bonus equal to 1 percent of the jackpot - $116,000.
The jackpot was the fourth-largest in Lotto history. Lottery officials said 194 tickets valued at $1 million or more have been sold since the Missouri Lottery began 18 years ago.
Yes, that's exactly the type of thing I was referring to. Some states do the right thing and give a percentage of the win, and others give some small fixed amount. The Michigan/Illinois thing is a perfect example.
Guess he believes MO shouldn't try Hot Lotto.
The store that sold the winning ticket got a nice $116,000 bonus - which is more generous than some states give for a Mega Millions winner.
Todd:
Remember the $2000 bonus given to a Michigan store owner and the $1.8 million+ to an Illinois proprietor who provided winners for the SAME drawing?
Yes, that's exactly the type of thing I was referring to. Some states do the right thing and give a percentage of the win, and others give some small fixed amount. The Michigan/Illinois thing is a perfect example.
Different states will always have different rules.