IN JAMAICA : $500 purchase gives lucky Lotto player, E Powell $395 million ...."I've won prizes for four numbers, but this is the real thing."

Monday, June 08, 2015    

A mechanic who last month spent $500 on Lotto tickets collected a cheque Saturday for $395 million, the largest jackpot ever in the game's history here.

Lotto winner E Powell (right) collects the symbolic $395-million cheque
from Supreme Ventures Chairman Paul Hoo at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel
 in New Kingston on Saturday. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

The winner, who identified himself as E Powell, collected his prize from Supreme Ventures Ltd (SVL) Chairman Paul Hoo at an official presentation function at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

A news release from SVL, the company that operates the Lotto, said that Wilson purchased his winning ticket at 7:11 pm on May 27 from Chong Lotto agency in Kingston.

He spent $500 on five Quick Pick selections made by the lottery terminal, which gave him the winning combination of 2, 5, 10, 11, 27, and 39.

The SVL release said Powell, who is soft-spoken due to a major illness about 15 years ago, was humble in his celebration of the big win.

"I have always been trying to keep myself calm, as I always hoped to win the Lotto," he was quoted as saying. "I've won prizes for four numbers, but this is the real thing."

Powell, who is married with two children, has been repairing cars for years and said he has been playing the game since it started.

"I plan to set up myself so we can live decently," Powell said. more