A San Benito resident quietly turned a scratch ticket into a $1 million payday on the Texas Lottery's Instant Millions game, the lottery announced Monday. The winning ticket was purchased at Stooky Mart on the east side of town, and the claimant elected to remain anonymous. The claim is the first of four $1 million top prizes to be claimed in the Instant Millions game.
According to the Texas Lottery, Instant Millions offers more than $91.3 million in total prizes, and the overall odds of winning any prize are one in 3.80, including break-even prizes. The agency's release identifies the retailer that sold the ticket as Stooky Mart at 1608 E. Business 77 in San Benito.
As reported by MySA, San Benito sits in central Cameron County about seven miles east of Harlingen and 20 miles west of Brownsville. Local coverage notes the winner chose to remain anonymous and that the store has become a visible point in the community after the claim.
How winners claim and preserve privacy
Prizes of $1 million up to $2.5 million may be claimed at local claim centers or at Texas Lottery headquarters in Austin, and scratch-ticket winners typically have 180 days to file a claim, per the Texas Lottery's claiming rules. The agency lists acceptable identification, explains steps for mailing claims, and urges winners to call ahead when processing large prizes. Texas law also allows winners of $1 million or more to elect anonymity when they submit their claim, and experts recommend consulting legal and financial advisers about payout choices before filing, as explained by the Houston Chronicle.
Local store and Rio Grande Valley reaction
Regional outlets reported that Stooky Mart, the convenience store named in the lottery release, sold the ticket and that the winner opted to remain anonymous, putting the business briefly in the spotlight, according to KRGV. The naming of the retailer places the business in the public eye, at least for a short stretch.
This is the first of up to four $1 million top prizes that can be claimed in the Instant Millions game, so players are urged to keep tickets secure and check them carefully. For anyone facing a big win, both the lottery and local reporters advise taking time to sign the ticket, seek trusted counsel, and understand tax and payout options before filing a claim.
