written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
20 May 2024
Journalist, Editorial Department
May 18, 2024, marked a lucky day for a resident of Canberra, who purchased a lottery ticket for the first time and won a prize of AUD 2.5 million (approximately RUB 152.1 million).
The winner participated in the draw for Saturday Lotto number 4469. In addition to him, three other residents across the country also claimed similar prizes—two from Western Australia and one from Victoria. The winning numbers for the Saturday draw were 20, 32, 9, 43, 13, and 26, with additional numbers 14 and 34. All four lucky ticket holders matched all six main numbers.
The first-time lottery player lives in the Australian Capital Territory, an enclave within New South Wales. The winning ticket was sold at a Metro Mitchell store.
The winner shared his excitement with lottery representatives, saying, "This is one of the best days of my life! I made the purchase on a whim. I had never bought a lottery ticket before. Then on Sunday morning, I woke up and found the ticket in my wallet, so I decided to check it... I can't explain that moment. I just can't believe it."
He also revealed his plans for the substantial winnings: "My top priority is to buy a house. I'm now going to start looking for my first home. I don't have to worry about interest rates! Thank you! This is just incredible!"
Saturday Lotto is a national lottery with draws held every Saturday. It first launched in Victoria in 1972 and expanded across Australia by 2013. To win the jackpot, players must match all six numbers in one of the ticket's game lines with the main winning numbers. The odds of winning are 1 in 8,145,060.
In a noteworthy coincidence, a resident of Massachusetts won $1 million twice within a span of 10 weeks.
