Lottery player lands two scratch-off wins worth nearly $1m and baffles expert by beating...

Players in Phoenix are also being urged to check their tickets after the New Year’s Day draw saw a $1 million prize left unclaimed. Published: 19:00 ET, Jan 12 2025ONE lucky Connecticut resident is almost $1 million richer winning two lotto games.The lottery tickets were purchased at the same gas station on two different dates.1Shopper wins almost $1m on two lotto gamesCredit: GettyFirst off, the shopper bought a $20 Cash Royale scratch card on December 31 and won the jackpot prize of $200,000.The same customer then won $750,000 from a Jumbo Cash ticket on January 3.Both tickets were bought from the Citgo on Main Street in Colchester.A probability expert claims the chances of this happening are less than one in a trillion, per local news website CT Insider.Read more on lotteryIddo Ben-Ari, a math professor at the University of Connecticut said: "The chance of this happening to me or to you is completely unlikely but the chance of this happening to someone, anyone throughout history, is actually pretty high," he said."That's exactly what happened here, it's a rare thing, but it will keep happening again and again."TWICE AS NICEIt’s not the first time an American has won twice on scratch-offs.The US Sun reported on a lucky lottery winner in Massachusetts who won two $1 million prizes last year.Christine Wilson spent $50 on a Lifetime Millions new instant scratch game and won her first million in February 2024.Then just 10 weeks later she won again – this time on a $10 ticket for a 100X Cash game.I went to the store to return carton of orange juice and came back with $315 million - I thought it was a mistakeWilson decided to take the money as a lump sum, meaning she received much less than the $2 million won.She also had to pay state tax on her winnings.Taxes on lottery prizes vary depending on the state where the ticket was purchased.Because she chose lump sum both times, Wilson had to pay federal taxes of around 24%.Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you'll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.Plus, Massachusetts takes a 5% tax on lottery winnings over $600.Had she gone for an annuity, the final payment would have been more.MORE WINSMeanwhile, a mistake made by a store worker saw one Maryland resident winning $10,000 on the local Pick 5 game.He then went on to win $200,000 a year later with the same number combination.Read More on The US SunPlayers in Phoenix, Arizona are being urged to check their tickets after the New Year’s Day draw saw a $1 million prize still unclaimed.The winner has 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize.Responsible gambling Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressedNational Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.orgFor help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 1-800-522-4700 or go to ncpgambling.org/chat