I won $220,000 playing the lottery from ticket that was ‘accidentally printed’ – and that wasn’t the first time

A WOMAN found herself thousands of dollars richer on a printing fluke.

Lori Sailors from Nebraska took home a huge lottery prize worth $220,000.

Nebraska Lottery

Sailors of Lincoln has struck it big once again, winning $220,000 in the Nebraska Pick 5 from the Nebraska Lottery .

She purchased her winning ticket at a Casey’s convenience store.

The ticket contained three quick pick plays for the June 22 drawing, one of which matched that night’s winning numbers: 04, 11, 22, 24, and 27.

This latest win marks Sailors’ largest Pick 5 jackpot to date.

Remarkably, this isn’t the first time she has hit the jackpot; back in June 2019, she claimed a $54,000 Pick 5 prize.

Her wins are even more extraordinary because both tickets were printed by mistake.

“I don’t let the mistakes go,” Sailors said.

“I don’t just let them sit there.”

In both instances, she purchased an extra ticket that had been accidentally printed, a decision that paid off handsomely.

ABOUT PICK 5

Nebraska Pick 5 is a unique lottery game with a strong local focus, Nebraska Lottery says.

All proceeds stay within Nebraska, and all winning tickets are sold exclusively at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers.

The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and increases by $10,000 for each drawing without a winner, are 1 in 658,008.

The overall odds of winning any prize in the game are 1 in 9.2, with drawings held seven nights a week.

CLAIMING A PRIZE IN NEBRASKA

For Lotto games, prizes can be claimed up to 180 days after the draw date, according to the Nebraska Lottery .

Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?

Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?

The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.

Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.

Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.

Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.

Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.

Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity .

However, lottery tickets cannot be cashed until 5 am Central the day after the drawing.

Scratch game prizes can be claimed up to 180 days after the game closing date.

There is no fee to claim Nebraska Lottery prizes.

Prizes up to $500 can be claimed at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, although some retailers may limit the amount they can pay out due to security concerns.

Tickets with prize amounts between $501 and $19,999 must be claimed by mail or at a Regional Lottery Claim Center.

When claiming, be prepared to show a Driver’s License or another form of photo ID.

Free ticket prizes may be paid by a free quick pick ticket, coupon, or warrant for the cash amount, in accordance with Lottery regulations.

Meanwhile, a woman from Massachusetts has won $1 million after spending only $5 on her lottery ticket.

And a Powerball player was set for a lucky July 4, having won an estimated $139 million prize.