Scratching off her crossword tickets has won a Blenheim woman $250,000.
Deborah Newton won the cash, the top prize, in Instant Crossword Deluxe.
Newton, a retiree, has been playing the lottery with OLG for nearly 25 years. She likes to play Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49 and a variety of instant tickets.
“I was at home when I played my ticket and discovered it was a winner,” she said in a media release. At first, I thought I’d won $25,000 and was so excited.”
Newton then took her ticket to the store to have it validated. Before handing it to the clerk, she decided to scan it herself using the ticket checker.
“I saw the prize amount on the screen and realized I’d actually won $250,000,” she said. “It was a jaw-dropping moment. I was surprised and very happy.”
When she returned home, Newton shared the news with her partner by showing him her validation slip.
“He was just as shocked as I was,” she said.
With her winnings, Newton plans to buy a new vehicle, complete some renovations, and invest for the future.
The winning ticket was purchased at Morning Calm Convenience on Talbot Street in Blenheim.
