North Texas woman won $1M on scratch-off lottery ticket. Here’s what she’s doing now.
Theresia M. Carty just won $1 million on a lottery scratch-off ticket — and she’s not shy about it.
Most Texans who have won $1 million or more through the Texas Lottery decline to release any information about themselves, which is allowed through state law.
But Carty, of Mesquite, talked about her win.
She recently bought a $20 Instant Millionaire scratch-off ticket at Best for Less at 1066 Pioneer Road in Mesquite.
And when she scratched it, she was stunned.
“It was an overwhelming feeling of disbelief, but a feeling of total happiness,” she told the Lottery Commission. “I kept staring at it, read the game instructions to make sure I really won, and then I called my husband, who was still at work.”
Carty said this is her biggest lottery win, but not her first. Through the years, she said she’s won much smaller prizes, including one for $500.
With her new winnings, she plans to pay off bills, invest and create a trust for her three sons.
Carty claimed the 19th of 40 prizes worth $1 million in this game. Five of the 10 tickets with a top payout of $2,500,000 have been claimed, according to the lottery commission.
The overall odds of winning any prize in this game are 3.20.
Texas law lets lottery winners who claim prizes worth $1 million or more remain anonymous.
The first Texas Lottery tickets were sold in 1992.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 10:56 AM.
