A LUCKY driver scored a $2 million Powerball jackpot using the manual method to select their numbers at a gas station.
The winner now has 180 days to claim their prize.
According to My San Antonio, a customer from East Texas selected the winning numbers at a Fuel Masters outlet in Chappel Hill, near College Station.
Curiously, they manually selected their winning numbers rather than using a Quick Pick – which is a set of numbers randomly generated by a computer.
The winning numbers for the August 4 drawing were: 8, 9, 19, 31, 38, and the Powerball number was 21.
The winner must now claim their prize within 180 days of the draw date.
In March, another $2 million Powerball ticket was sold in San Antonio at QuikTrip on Hot Wells Blvd.
Although, on this occasion, the winner used a Quick Pick draw.
And earlier this year, a $1 million Powerball ticket was sold on San Antonio’s Northside near the airport, also at a QuikTrip.
The pattern seems to be that purchasing lottery tickets at gas stations can lead to life-changing wins for Texas residents.
Staying in Texas, one driver issued a warning to others to check their cars after they was handed a toll bill for trips they didn’t take.
Andrea Lynn from North Harris County, Texas, got a $20 bill for 11 trips in Montgomery County over a three-day period in June, that she never took and is now urging drivers to take precautions.
Initially, she thought the bill was simply sent in error, until a closer look at the CCTV grab of the vehicle showed what really happened.
“There’s the back of the car with my plate,” she told KHOU-TV Houston while showing reporters the bill she received.
After calling the Montgomery County Toll Authority she discovered that her license plate had unknowingly been removed from her vehicle and replaced with a stolen one.
“I come back to look here where there was a plate and it was a completely different number and I said to her, ‘I have two different license plates on my van,” Lynn said.
Elsewhere, drivers have noticed that, depending on how they choose to pay, there could be massive price differences in their gas bills.
A gas station owner, who was aware of the issue, allegedly said they’re able to charge customers any price they want.
Pat Igo, a Florida businessman, said he first noticed the price discrepancy when filling up his truck at a self-service gas station, as reported by Fox affiliate WFLX.
Igo manages an air conditioning installation and repair company that uses 12 massive trucks for its operations.
At the gas pump, Igo said he spotted a small label that he had never noticed before.
“I noticed this little box at the bottom,” he told WFLX. “And it didn’t match the price that was out on the street.”
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.
