Massachusetts resident Maria Acevedo Valdez won an unexpected $1 million prize from her daily cup of coffee. Valdez decided to throw in a lottery ticket while checking out after stopping at an Andover gas station for a cup of coffee to start her day, according to a press release from the Massachusetts State Lottery.
Valdez spent $20 at the Mobil station to play the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “$10,000,000 Premier Cash” instant ticket game, and her gamble paid off with a $1 million prize.
Valdez cashed in her ticket and chose to receive her prize as a lump-sum payment of $650,000 (before taxes) as soon as she found out she had won.
According to the announcement, she said she feels “thankful and blessed” and that she will use the reward to support her family.
In addition, the Mobil where Valdez bought her ticket would get paid a bonus of $10,000 for selling it.
The game costs $20 per ticket to play, and as of December 18, there are six $1 million prizes left to be claimed, according to MassLive.
Earlier this month, another Massachusetts resident won a $25 million lottery prize. Desiree Fortini-Craft did not immediately claim her $25 million prize after she emerged as the winner in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” $50 instant game.
She rather opted to go on vacation in Aruba before doing that. But that wasn’t after she scratched her winning ticket and hid it in a secure place before jetting off.
