Man Wins 2nd $1 Million Scratch-Off Game

aolnews.com ^ | 5.7.04 | aolnews

[freepatriot32]

DEXTER, Mich. (May 7) - Russell Tanner better stay inside during a thunderstorm, because if somebody has a chance of being struck by lightning, it's him.

The 78-year-old Dexter resident won his second $1 million scratch-off lottery game last week - the only known two-time winner of the game in Michigan.

The retired custodian and factory worker who still lived in a manufactured home following his June 2002 winning ticket, said he was stunned to win again.

"I couldn't believe that I could be so blessed. It just feels great to win," he said.

The odds to win the game just once are one in 623,825.

Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters said odds of winning twice haven't been calculated. No one at the state lottery office can remember someone winning $1 million twice, he said.

"We have so few $1 million winners from instant games as it is, but to have one gentleman win twice is really extraordinary," Peters told The Ann Arbor News for a story Friday.

Tanner is divorced and lives alone. He has no plans to move, he said. Tanner said he sent his four grown children, who are scattered across the country, some of his winnings.

"They were pretty happy, but my daughter wouldn't believe me. I had to convince her heavily," he said. "Charity starts at home."

He said his new fortune isn't likely to change his lifestyle, except that he has bought a new Buick and some life insurance.

"I get older, and I am pretty all set. I am pretty happy about it."

Peters said the state has 71 types of instant lottery tickets. Tanner's most recent win was with a "$1 Million Dream" ticket, he said.

"Now I'm going for three!" Tanner said.

Information from: The Ann Arbor News, http://www.mlive.com/aanews

05/07/04 21:18 EDT

[freepatriot32]

his new fortune isn't likely to change his lifestyle, except that he has bought a new Buick and some life insurance.

hmmm i would think the 2 million dollars would help cover the funeral costs and let his family live pretty well after he is gone without having to buy a life insurance policy :-)

[Nataku X]

I think the federal taxes alone are about 2/3rds

Add in state and county taxes and he probably has only 1/4th of the original money remaining... if he's lucky.

[BJungNan]

"We have so few $1 million winners from instant games as it is..."

I wonder what their ads say when it comes to promoting these lottery tickets. I doubt it starts with, "we have so few $1 million winners."

[Graybeard58]

The odds to win the game just once are one in 623,825.

Let's see now, they sell 623,825 one dollar tickets and pay out a mill.? Highly unlikely.

[general_re]

The odds to win the game just once are one in 623,825.

Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters said odds of winning twice haven't been calculated.

1 in 389 billion, that two randomly chosen tickets will both be winners....

[csvset]

without having to buy a life insurance policy

A slick salesman got to him...

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I'm sure those are 10 dollar tickets. I work in a grocery store and we have a married couple who come in and spend 100 bucks each, every day, on scratch tickets.

Yes, 7 days a week 200 bucks per day. I don't know where they get their money but I hope the source doesn't dry up for their sake.

[meowmeow]

If he's "all set," why does he keep playing the lottery?

[Graybeard58]

I'm sure those are 10 dollar tickets

My mistake, I thought they were all one dollar tickets. Shows how much I know about it!

[Lawgvr1955]

So, just curious, how is the couple doing that "invests" $70,000.00 a year in the lottery? Any big winners? Breaking even???

[ServesURight]

At 78 years old, he won't have much time to enjoy his new riches.

[ClintonBeGone]

Can't imagine what it costs to insure a 78 year old body.

[SedVictaCatoni]

Anybody who would continue to buy scratch-off tickets after winning $1,000,000 the first time is addicted to gambling.

[Thor_Hammar]

Buying life insurance is a reasonably bright thing to do as the Estate and Gift Tax portions of the Internal Revenue Code all life insurance to pass to a beneficiary without being taxes at the exhorbitant federal death tax rate of 49% and state death tax rates of up to 12.5%!

He may not have purchased a large policy, but he really should consider doing so as it will keep more than half his estate from going to the Infernal Revenue Service to be squandered by the DemonRATS in Congress and to the state of Michigan Department of Revenue to be squandered by the DemonRATS in the state assembly.

[breakem]

I think most lotteries are exempt from state taxes

[Redpower]

“They were pretty happy, but my daughter wouldn't believe me. I had to convince her heavily,” he said.

Hey, Russell! I don't believe you either. I think I need some heavy convincing, as well.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

They don't look like they are starving that's for sure. They usually hit for about 40 bucks a night so they are losing less than 200 a night.

They are so deep into gambling a manager was talking about his wife going to see the horses (she works at a horse boarding outfit) and they chimed in with "We love going to the racetrack".