August 05, 2011 -- Last Friday, Beverly Hall became an all-out fan of the $20 CT Lottery instant game “
Big Money,” and for good reason—the retired Bristol resident hit it big winning the game’s $2,000,000 top prize. Monday, Fleet Marine Force Corpsman, Joseph Collins of Mystic also showed up at Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill to cash in his $2,000,000 Big Money ticket. "Between July and August, it's been a 'Month of Millionaires.' In just this past week, the Lottery has awarded three prizes of one million dollars or more to winners. It’s exciting, and has really made this a summer of fun for players!” said Diane Patterson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the CT Lottery.
Big Money, debuted in April of 2009. The Big Money $2,000,000 top prize is payable as a 20-year annuity or as a one-time cash lump-sum equivalent.
Hill selected the annuity option and accepted her first prize check from Lottery officials for $68,506 (value after taxes). “I can’t believe it. This really gives me a sense of added security,” Hall said.
After serving a tour of duty in Iraq and another in Afghanistan, Collins, 23, recently moved home to Mystic to fulfill his military commitment at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. When Collins scratched and revealed a matching pair of “11’s” on his Big Money instant ticket, he handed it over to the clerk without checking the prize amount. “He scanned it and told me, ‘You’re a two million dollar winner!’ I didn’t believe him,” Collins said with a laugh.
Selecting Big Money’s top prize in a $1,156,800 lump sum payment, Collins received a check for $790,094 (prize value after taxes). “I’m on my way straight to the bank; then I’m meeting with a financial advisor,” Collins told Lottery officials.
Hall's winning ticket was purchased at Gala News located at 533 Farmington Avenue in Bristol. Collins purchased his top prize winning ticket at Mystic Food N More located at 34 E. Main Street in Mystic. Each retailer will receive a $20,000 bonus from the CT Lottery for selling the winning tickets.