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September 2, 2010

Palestine woman wins $1 million in Lottery scratch-off ticket

ANGIE ALVARADO Palestine Herald-Press

PALESTINE — Brenda Richardson of Palestine hit a lucky streak Sunday that ultimately led to her winning $1 million in a scratch-off ticket.



A winning streak that started Sunday led Richardson to buy a $500,000,000 Blockbuster scratch-off ticket at JJ’s No. 211, 1901 Crockett Rd. That ticket revealed one of 40 $1 million prizes available in the game.



“I bought a ticket Sunday and won some money and cashed it in,” Richardson said. She then used her winnings to buy a $500,000,000 Blockbuster ticket.



“I won $50 on that one and bought another, and won $100 on that one and got this ticket,” she said about her million-dollar scratch-off.



Although she just purchased her winning ticket on Monday, Richardson already knows how she’ll use the money.



“Like everyone, I want to pay off some debts. I’ll also put some away for retirement,” she said. “Mainly, I keep telling myself to be calm and be wise.”



Richardson received her prize at the Texas Lottery® Claim Center in Tyler, but she won’t be the only one to benefit from the win. For selling the winning ticket, JJ’s owner Gerald Blevins will receive a retailer bonus of $10,000.



Employees at JJ’s know Richardson well.



“She’s a regular customer,” Blevins said. “The employees all know her. They’re glad it’s someone nice (who won),” Blevins said, adding that he and his employees were happy for Richardson.



Blevins said he believes Richardson works at a Palestine school. She won the million dollars on Monday, the first day of school.



Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Gary Grief said the ticket purchased by Richardson is a popular scratch-off.



“The $500,000,000 Blockbuster has been a particularly successful game, regularly showing up as our top-selling scratch-off. It’s good news for our retailers and even better news for Texas education because revenues from the game support the Foundation School Fund,” Grief said.



Boasting more than half a billion dollars in total prizes, the $500,000,000 Blockbuster game has six top prizes of $2.5 million each and 19 prizes of $1 million remaining unclaimed. Overall odds of winning any prize are one in 2.77, including break-even prizes.



For Texas Lottery players hoping to replicate Richardson’s win, she has just one piece of advice, “You can’t win if you don’t play, but don’t spend your milk money – be responsible.”



For more information about the Texas Lottery, please visit the official website at http://www.txlottery.org/.



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The Texas Lottery Commission contributed to this story.

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