Michelle Sloan thought she had landed a modest $10,000 win on a scratch-off lottery ticket — until she visited the Massachusetts Lottery office and got the shock of a lifetime: her ticket was actually worth $1 million.
“I was positive it was only ten grand,” Sloan said in a statement shared by the Massachusetts State Lottery. “I just can’t believe it. I’m still so shocked.”
Sloan purchased the winning $2,000,000 Diamond Cashword ticket at the Village Knoll Deli & Spirits in Millbury on July 16. When she brought it to the Worcester regional office, officials told her she’d need to go to Boston headquarters instead — because she had hit the much bigger jackpot.
Rather than take the full prize spread over time, Sloan opted for the one-time cash payment, which amounts to $650,000 before taxes.
The Massachusetts mother said she plans to invest some of her winnings and use a portion to support her children.
As for the convenience store that sold the lucky ticket, Village Knoll Deli & Spirits will receive a $10,000 bonus from the lottery.
The Diamond Cashword is a $10 scratch game offering a 1-in-3.26 chance of winning any prize. The odds of winning $1 million are 1 in 2.52 million, while the odds of hitting the $2 million top prize are 1 in 5.04 million.
