Scratch-off ticket bought on a whim pays out big for N.Y. man

LANCASTER, N.Y., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A New York state man said a string of good luck with scratch-off lotto tickets led him to buy a $20 ticket that won him a minimum $10 million.

Jerry Kajfasz, 53, of Lancaster said he went to the Depew One Stop in Depew Jan. 18 and the clerk almost mistakenly sold him a $20 Win for Life Spectacular ticker along with his usual scratch-offs, the Buffalo (N.Y.) News reported Wednesday.

Kajfasz said he took his tickets out to his truck and a string of good luck inspired him to go back into the store for the ticket he was nearly sold by mistake. He scratched the ticker inside the store and was amazed to see he had won the grand prize of $10,000 a week for life, a minimum guaranteed $10 million.

"I just sat there and couldn't believe it," he said. "Shocked. I probably looked over the ticket half a dozen times."

Kajfasz, who claimed his winnings with a $10 million ceremonial check Tuesday, said he and his wife will take 86 percent of the winnings and each of their children will get 7 percent. He said the ticket is in his son's name so it will continue to pay out after his death.