A quick stop for a $10 scratch ticket turned into a serious payday for an expectant father from Western Massachusetts. Dylan Jacobus, of Otis, hit the grand prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s "$2,500 A Week For Life" instant game after buying a ticket at a convenience store in Westfield. He chose the lump-sum option, walking away with a one-time payment of $2,000,000 before taxes, and said the win will go straight toward helping his growing family. The store that sold the ticket will also collect a retailer bonus for making the lucky sale.
According to Boston 25 News, Jacobus opted for the cash payout instead of the weekly-for-life option and told lottery officials he "is grateful to have this opportunity to put us in the right direction and set us up for success." The winning ticket came from the Lottery’s $2,500 A Week For Life $10 instant-ticket game.
Winning Ticket And Retailer
The lucky ticket was sold at Big Y Express, 330 East Main Street in Westfield. The store is getting a nice surprise of its own: a $26,000 retailer bonus for selling the top-prize ticket, according to Western Mass News. That bonus is paid directly to the business that sells a jackpot-winning ticket.
What The Prize Covers
The $2,500 A Week For Life game gives winners a choice between receiving $2,500 per week for life or a $2,000,000 cash option. Jacobus went with the lump-sum alternative when he claimed the prize, according to Boston.com. Lottery officials are responsible for verifying the win and handling the timing of the payout for grand-prize tickets.
Jacobus told lottery officials he plans to use the money to prepare for the arrival of his and his expectant wife's first child, Boston 25 News reports. Lottery officials did not immediately release additional details about tax withholding or the exact claim timeline.
