Newington Woman Claims “Miracle” Lottery Win of $5,000 a Month for Life
Regina DiBenedetto is Newest CT Lottery “Win for Life 19th Edition®” Instant Game Winner
Rocky Hill, CT /August 14, 2013 – Today, Regina DiBenedetto of Newington started a new day unlike any other before. She woke up to beautiful sunny summer skies—and a guaranteed “Win for Life 19th Edition” instant game prize payment of $5,000 a month for the rest of her life. “It’s a miracle,” DiBenedetto told Lottery officials. “This is one of five top prize tickets in the game. It’s really unbelievable.”
On her way home late last week, DiBenedetto stopped at a CT Lottery retailer and purchased five Win for Life 19th Edition instant tickets for $3 each. Later that evening, DiBenedetto scratched the first four tickets, but they were non-winners. The fifth ticket DiBenedetto scratched, however, revealed a winning number match and a “WIN FOR LIFE” prize symbol worth $5,000 a month for life.
“My husband thought something was wrong because I started screaming,” DiBenedetto said with a laugh. “I told him—WE WON—and had him look at the ticket's prize. Then we took the ticket to two different lottery retailers and scanned it in a Ticket Checker.”
Win for Life is one of the CT Lottery’s most popular instant games offered because the value of its top prize is based on the longevity of its winner. The Win for Life 19th Edition’s top prize is paid as $5,000 a month for life, with guaranteed minimum total payout of $1,200,000, or as a one-time cash option payment of $1,000,000.
Yesterday, Regina, along with her husband, Charlie, happily by her side, arrived at CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill, opting for the game’s $5,000 a month for life top prize. Regina accepted the first of what she expects will be many prize checks for $3,416 (value after taxes). “We’re still in shock. Winning this prize is a big stress reliever,” the DiBenedettos both said. "We're looking forward to taking a vacation, relaxing, and doing some things that we've never done before."
For selling DiBenedetto her top prize winning Win for Life 19th Edition ticket, Follybrook Country Store, located at 539 Nott Street in Wethersfield, will receive a $10,000 bonus check from the CT Lottery.
Sales began for the Win for Life 19th Edition game on April 8. The overall chances of winning a prize are 1 in 4.19. Of the 5 top prizes in the game, 3 remain to be claimed.
The CT Lottery reminds the public that purchasers must be 18 or older, and to please play responsibly. For information about the CT Lottery, call (860) 713-2700, visit ctlottery.org or join us now on Facebook (facebook.com/CTLottery) and Twitter (twitter.com/ctlottery).
