Marion Resident Claims $500,000 Lotto Jackpot

On Wednesday night, Eric Dennett's father came in the room to tell him that their Lotto ticket had matched five of the six numbers drawn, but he hadn't caught the last number drawn.  While watching the news, Dennett discovered that 33 was the last number drawn -- and the last number on their ticket. They had won the $518,685 Lotto jackpot. 

"My parents and I stayed up all night," said Dennett, age 40.  "My mom even learned how to use the Lottery's Web site to find out if ours was the only jackpot-winning ticket."

Dennett, owner of a produce stand in Marion, said he and his parents play Lotto and Powerball every Wednesday and Saturday using a combination of family birthdays. According to Dennett, they had won $100 from a Powerball ticket a few weeks ago.  He said he has also recently started playing the Lottery's newest draw-style game, Easy 5.

Dennett received $363,079 after federal and state income taxes were withheld from his prize, which he claimed today at Lottery headquarters. With his winnings, Dennett said he plans to build a house, pay off his and his parents' cars and take his 9-year-old son to Orlando next summer.

Dennett purchased his jackpot-winning ticket at Marion Food Mart on Main Street in Marion. The store will receive a one-time bonus of $5,186 or one percent of the jackpot, for selling Dennett his winning ticket. The winning numbers for the Sept. 26 Lotto drawing were 7-12-24-28-30-33.

Lottery players must be at least 21 years of age to purchase a ticket. The Lottery encourages anyone who may have a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem to call toll free 1-877-770-7867.