2006 Press Releases

July 20, 2006

Wilmington Man Claims $50,000 from Instant Win Game

Dover, DE -- A Wilmington man claimed the $50,000 top prize for the $3 Million Spectacular Delaware Lottery instant win game at Delaware Lottery headquarters in Dover.

The man, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said he has been playing the Delaware Lottery as a source of entertainment for more than 20 years. In addition, he enjoys visiting Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and Delaware Park Slots occasionally, and he had previously only dreamed of a major instant win like this.

"I couldn't believe how much I had won" he said. "I won $5,000 on a Play 4 game years ago. …I knew I had won big, but still didn't believe it."

It may have been his biggest Lottery game prize, but he struggled to get a hold of his wife to give her the good news, who was in a meeting at work.

"I called her for hours and even sent her an instant message, but I couldn't reach her," he said. "I thought I was going to burst I wanted to tell her so bad."

The $20 instant game card was purchased at the 7-11 on Route 40 in Bear, Del., where he and his wife often buy their lottery tickets.

The couple has yet to make big plans for their winnings, as they will probably just save most of the $37,500 they took home after federal withholding taxes.

To check your potentially winning number, call the Delaware Lottery hotline at 1-800-338-6200.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Delaware Gambling Helpline at 1-888-850-8888.

Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $2.1 billion to the state's General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, and assorted Instant Games.