Lotto player 'over the moon' with breathtaking top prize win on a €15 scratch card

A SCRATCH card player is “over the moon” after winning a €300,000 top prize in a €15 Lotto game.

The Monaghan gambler collected the €300,000 check when he visited Lotto's headquarters in Dublin today.

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They won the top prize for a €15 All Cash Gift scratch card game, purchased from Cassidy's XL store on Dundalk Road in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

The National Lottery said the winner was jumping for joy and admitted they initially didn't believe what they saw after scratching their ticket.

They said: “At first I thought I had won €30,000 and then I started counting the zeros.

“You never think you're going to be a grand prize winner, so I don't think that immediately occurred to me. I was totally shocked!

“I wouldn't even consider myself a very lucky person to be honest, but sure, here I am in the winners room, so that could change now.

“I'm absolutely over the moon and when the win finally sinks in, I'll start making plans for what I'm going to do.”

The staff at Cassidy's XL store were also very happy when they heard they were selling a scratch card with such a big prize.

There were celebrations at the Carrickmacross store after the news broke.

Anita Cassidy, who owns the store with her husband Shane, said the entire team at the store was happy to hear this.

She added: “This is the biggest prize we have ever sold so there is great excitement about the win.

“We had a Lotto Plus 2 win worth €250,000 in 2017, so this one is even bigger.

“It's great news for both the store and the community.

Wish 'all the best'

“We wish the winner all the best with their victory and hope they enjoy it!”

Meanwhile, last night's Lotto draw saw more than 61,000 players across the country win prizes in the Lotto and Lotto Plus games.

Since there was no outright winner of the €5,249,016 jackpot, Saturday's jackpot will now roll towards an estimated €5.8 million.

Lotto players dreaming of becoming the next big winner are reminded that tickets can be purchased in-store, via the National Lottery app or at www.lottery.ie before the 7.45pm cut-off time for Saturday evening sales.