Memorable Moments
Since 1967, we have been enriching the lives of South Australians through the delivery of entertaining games and life-changing moments…
Winner leaves $17 million ticket in car overnight
A mother from the Flinders Ranges & Outback region unknowingly left an Oz Lotto ticket worth $17 million in the console of her car for a day.
“I didn’t realise it was a $17 million piece of paper until I checked it the next day,” the woman said, upon presenting the winning entry at SA Lotteries Head Office.
“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet—it just seems so unreal,” she said.
The woman’s Easi-Pick entry was purchased on the spur-of-the-moment at Port Augusta’s Westside Newsagency.
“It was the first lottery ticket I’ve bought in six months—I saw the jackpot advertised and decided to try my luck,” the winner said.
“I normally can’t even win a meat-tray!”
The new multi-millionaire plans to buy a house and a holiday home for her family, and pay off her children’s mortgages.
“This money will be shared among my family and enjoyed by many.”
The woman celebrated winning South Australia's fifth largest lottery prize over “a few glasses of champagne and some housework.”
X Lotto first for Elizabeth Downs pensioner
An Elizabeth Downs man aged in his 70s was the first South Australian to win a Division One prize in SA Lotteries’ rebranded X Lotto game.
Having registered the winning entry on his Easiplay Club card, the pensioner received a telephone call the morning after the draw from SA Lotteries confirming the million-dollar news.
“I checked my ticket early this morning and I think I’ve checked it another 17 times since then,” the man said.
“My heart is racing, my hands are shaking, so I’m very glad you called,” he said.
“I was hoping I hadn’t made a mistake…17 times.”
Upon hearing the news of his overnight millionaire status, the man remained quite calm.
“How much have I won? $1 million? Good, I think I’ll have another cup of tea,” the man said to SA Lotteries.
“It’s too early for me to think about what to do with this money—I need to get over the shock first,” he said.
SA Lotteries rebranded its Lotto game to X Lotto on Sunday 16 May with the launch of a new lotteries system that can identify crosses marked on coupons.
X Lotto first launched in South Australia in 1973, but was rebranded to Lotto in 1999 with the launch of SA Lotteries’ previous system that identified only vertical lines marked on coupons.
The new X Lotto name applies to all Saturday, Monday and Wednesday draws.
Blind pensioner sets sights on new glasses with
$2 million Lotto prize
A legally blind man from Adelaide’s southern suburbs is a multi-millionaire after recently claiming the entire $2 million Division One prize in a Monday Lotto draw.
According to the single father, radio news on the search for a mystery winner from Seaford prompted him to check his ticket.
“When I heard that the winner bought a 25-game ticket from the Seaford Newsagency, I just knew it was me,” the man said.
“I checked my ticket straightaway and crossed off all six numbers, which was an amazing feeling.”
The man told SA Lotteries that he has modest plans for his newfound fortune.
“I want to financially secure my children’s future and then buy myself a new pair of glasses,” he said.
Despite his legally blind status, this self-professed “hardworking pensioner” plans to continue to work at the business he part owns.
Hospital employee “accidentally” wins two Division One prizes
A hospital worker who “accidentally” duplicated the same six numbers on her Lotto coupon claimed two Division One prize shares from a Wednesday night Lotto draw.
Two of the 14 games on the woman’s coupon entry contained all six winning numbers.
“I must have been pretty frazzled when I filled out the coupon to have accidentally marked the same set of numbers twice,” the Magill resident said upon being contacted by SA Lotteries the morning after the draw.
The ‘mishap’ has doubled the woman’s Division One prize tally from $153,846 to $307,692.
“I’ve been saving for a home deposit, so this is a dream come true for me,” the lucky lady said.
“This is the best phone call I could ever hope to receive!”
The woman purchased her ticket from Rostrevor Pharmacy.
Second-time Lotto winner rewards staff with interstate holiday
A man from Adelaide’s eastern suburbs claimed his second Division One Lotto prize in 15 years.
The small business operator’s recent $738,224 Lotto win more than doubles the $300,000 prize he collected in 1993.
Despite having experienced the thrill of winning Lotto before, the news was no less overwhelming for the man the second time around.
“You’re kidding aren’t you?” was his response when contacted by SA Lotteries on the morning following the draw “I’m shaking so much right now – I think I need to sit down,” he said.
The man presented his winning System entry at SA Lotteries Head Office just hours after receiving the good news.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve won a Division One prize, so I can’t believe my luck,” the man said.
“Winning for a second time feels just as fantastic as the first time around!”
The local businessman planned to share his windfall with staff members.
“I plan to send my employees on a holiday to Queensland to reward them for their hard work and loyalty,” he said.
The regular Lotto player also planned to share the remainder of his prize money with his children and finalise the construction of his new home.
The doubly lucky local and his wife planned to celebrate his good fortune over a romantic dinner and an “expensive bottle of bubbly”.
Parafield Gardens man turns $15 into $15 million
A father from Parafield Gardens was contacted with the news that he is $15 million richer.
The local player was Australia’s only winner in the Oz Lotto draw and was able to be contacted by SA Lotteries having registered his $15 ticket on his Easiplay Club membership card.
The multi-millionaire, aged in his 40s, was aware of his win, having checked the results on SA Lotteries’ website late the night before.
“I discovered my win just before I had to report to work to start the midnight shift,” the man very calmly said.
“I’ve worked a lot of hours over the past few days, so I’m probably too tired to be excited at this point,” he said.
The winner was due to “knock-off work in an hour”, at which time he planned to “head home for a long sleep”.
Having only just returned from an overseas holiday, the man intends to embark on a trip to the Great Wall of China.
“I don’t need to pay off my mortgage or buy a new car – I’m going to retire and travel the world,” he said.
If you’ve ever experienced the thrill of winning a Division One prize and would like to share your story on radio, television or in the newspaper, email Corporate Communications.