Winning streak sees Iowa lottery player bag $1m
Wednesday February 9th 2011An Iowa Lottery player has enjoyed a run of luck that has left him $1million richer. Aenoi Phetxoumphone, of Webster City, Iowa, decided to test his luck one more time last Friday, after winning small prizes on a number of instant scratchcards. The 29-year-old went into Casey’s general store in his home town to buy lotto tickets and settled on a $20 Lifetime Riches game.
He said: “I started out with a $2 ticket, and that turned into $10. And that $10 turned into I think 20 or 25. And then that's when I changed it in for this one.”
After scratching the Lifetime Riches instant game, which happened to be the last one in the shop, Mr Phetxoumphone found himself speechless.
“I turned around and went back home,” he said. “That's when I started crying.”
His family took some convincing that he’d actually won, and according to the new lottery millionaire they are still in shock.
Mr Phetxoumphone decided to take the cash as one lump sum of $455,000 after tax, rather than 25 annual payments. Following the win there are now five remaining jackpot prizes of $1million up for grabs.