Bittersweet win for Saturday Lotto player

A man in his 50s and his family are reflecting on a bittersweet win in last weekend’s Saturday Lotto.

“I can go out with a smile on my face,” said the man, who was tragically diagnosed with an illness recently and told he only has months to live.

“I was well prepared with no debt and decent super, but now I know that my family will be set up really well after this win.”

The gentleman was one of eight winners nationally, giving him a $772,000 slice of the $6 million prize pool.

The winner very nearly didn’t have a ticket in the draw.

“I saw it was 5.55pm and I thought, I’d better hurry up and get my Lotto tickets,” he said.

“I always buy two entries, one with my favourite numbers, and one Slikpik.

“Usually, I’d reject the first choice of random numbers and go with the second choice, but because it was so close to 6pm, I went with the first choice, and it was one of those entries that won.”

He and his wife were particularly tickled that it was line 16 that had all the winning numbers.

“We were married on the 16th, and we won 10 years and one week after we were married,” the wife said.

“We’ve been building lots of memories, but it will be hard to top this one, and now I can finally say I’m married to a millionaire.”

The win means that business class travel to visit family over east is now on the cards for the couple.

“We were resigned to not being able to see them, so this is very special,” he said.

“I am glad I’ll be able to help out some of those family members who have been doing it really tough.”

Lotterywest spokesperson Jennie Fitzhardinge said she would never forget these winners.

“It is always moving to meet people who have won a life-changing amount of money, but there are things that money just can’t buy,” she said.

Thanks to players and retailers across WA, a Lotterywest grant of $1.58 million has supported a digital transformation project to prepare for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House, which provides essential accommodation and support services to families with seriously ill or injured children.

WA players have more chances to win this week with Thursday’s Powerball at $60 million. Tickets are available in-store, online or through the Lotterywest App.

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