SW leads State in lotto wins
The South West is the State’s luckiest regional Lotto hot spot for the third year running, with five division one tickets worth close to $10 million sold in the region during 2012.
Two of the year’s big winning tickets were sold at Crosslands Newsagency in Bunbury.
These included an $851,790 Saturday ticket sold in March to a Bunbury couple and a $4 million ticket sold in October which was claimed by a 29 member syndicate.
Crosslands Newsagency owner Mark Dennis said it was the first time in his 23 years of lottery retailing he had sold two Division 1 winning tickets in a year.
“I don’t know what it is, I can’t put my finger on it, but we have had a tremendous amount of success,’’ Mr Dennis said.
“It’s been a strong year, I’ve seen more money go out of here in prizes than ever before.
“I think country people understand the benefits of playing Lotto – they understand if they’re not a winner directly they’re a winner indirectly because money goes back into the community.’’
Other Division 1 wins included a $679,047 ticket sold at Eaton Fair Lottery Centre & News and a $825,551 ticket sold at Collie Newsagency.
A $3.3 million Saturday Lotto ticket was also sold at Busselton’s Broadwater News in May.
Lotterywest spokeswoman Pina Compagnone said there was still a chance to get on the winners list this year.
A $30 million Megadraw will be held on Saturday.
“We hope the Megadraw delivers more regional winners – it will certainly make an exciting start to the New Year,’’ Ms Compagnone said.
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