Hobart man wins big on birthday scratchie

A seemingly ordinary birthday gift from a friend has seen a “gobsmacked” local man become richer overnight. See where he bought the winning ticket >>

A SEEMINGLY ordinary birthday gift from a friend has seen a “gobsmacked” local man become $25,000 richer overnight.

The lucky winner Darren Slattery said Wednesday was a birthday to remember.

“We were having a barbecue and I was scratching it and I had a feeling I would win something,” he said.

“I actually only thought I was going to win $50.

“When I saw I won $25,000, I was gobsmacked.”

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Mr Slattery said it wasn’t long before he and his mate were “screaming” and “jumping around the place like idiots”.

“We still don’t believe it,” he said.

“It hasn’t sunk in.”

The $25,000 winner said a celebration of pizza and beers was in order, adding he was excited to put the prize money towards a house deposit with his partner.

“We’ve been saving up so this is going to put us over the line,” he said.

“We were looking at houses to buy already over the weekend.”

Mr Slattery’s friend purchased the two dollar 3 Of A Kind Instant Scratch-Its ticket at Sandy Bay Newsagency.

Store manager Lisa Culic said the staff were “very happy” for the birthday man.

“We wish him the best with his prize and hopes it makes some of his dreams come true,” she said.

“We have sold a few major prize winning entries in the past and we are so happy to hear we have sold another.”

Last year saw more than half a million dollars won on Instant Scratch-Its every day, with 199 top prize winners across the Lott’s jurisdictions collectively taking home more than $9.7 million.