HOUSTON — The winner of a $15 million Lotto Texas ticket sold in Houston has yet to come forward, but the store that sold the ticket is already seeing a boost in business.
“Give me one Lotto ticket cash option sir,” said customer Bobby Guillory to a clerk at Teddy’s Food Mart.
That’s where someone bought this weekend’s winning ticket.
“I saw there was a winning ticket purchased here on Saturday,” Guillory said.
Teddy’s Food Mart at 7702 Eastex Freeway sold a quick pick ticket that hit all six numbers in Saturday’s Lotto Texas drawing. The winning numbers were 1, 4, 10, 14, 15, 26.
Teddy’s management actually heard about it through the grapevine.
“I think one of the customers, they came here on Sunday,” said supervisor Salim Maknogia. “They let us know that somebody won.”
According to the Texas Lottery Commission, a person who bought a ticket here matched all six numbers.
They selected the cash option, which means a $10.8 million payout.
“We are happy,” Maknogia said.
But the store, which gets a 5 percent commission on all lottery sales, no longer gets a bonus from selling a winning ticket. The incentive was eliminated last year and would have raked in an extra $150,000 for the store.
“Due to changes in the agency’s budget for the 2018-19 biennium, which eliminated the funding for the retailer bonus program, the program ended on September 1, 2018,” a Texas Lottery Commission spokesperson said.
The lottery says whoever has the winning $15 million ticket should sign it, put it in a safe place and seek financial and legal advice before claiming the prize.
Meanwhile, customers like Crystal Irving hope lightning strikes twice.
“This is another winner right here,” Irving said as she held up a ticket.
The next drawing is April 17 and the estimated jackpot is $5 million.
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