Melissa Broussard of Morgan City rung in the new year $100,000 richer.  On New Year's Eve, she claimed a $100,000 top prize from a Slots of Money scratch-off ticket at Louisiana Lottery Corporation's headquarters in Baton Rouge.

"I brought the ticket home and quickly scratched it,"  explained Broussard, age 45.  "I originally thought that I had won $100, and I was excited about that.  Then I scratched the entire ticket and saw that my prize was $100,000!  I just started screaming."

Broussard, who was home with her children that night, said she tries all the different games offered by the Lottery but especially likes the scratch-offs.  She purchased her winning ticket at Mel-Star Inc. on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Morgan City.

Broussard said she plans to fulfill a dream with her winnings.  "Since the day we were married, my husband and I had planned to buy a house.  Unfortunately he passed away before that came to be, so now I'll purchase a small house that is near his resting place."

Slots of Money is a $5 game that offers a chance to win up to 15 times on each ticket. The game has one $100,000 top prize remaining as of Jan. 5.

Persons must be at least 21 years of age to purchase a Lottery ticket.  Anyone who has a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem are encouraged to call toll-free 1-877-770-7867. For security purposes, the Lottery strongly encourages players to sign the back of their ticket after purchasing.