April 18, 2019 - Salem, Ore. – When Saleem Hakimi, owner of the Stayton Market and Deli found out that his store sold a winning Win for Life ticket, he couldn’t believe it.
“This just shows that you can win anywhere, even a small town like Stayton,” Hakimi said.
Hakimi sold the winning ticket to Brian Schachtsick of Stayton. Schachtsick claimed his prize last week and opted to take the annual payments of $52,000 before taxes, each year for the rest of his life. The winning numbers were 11-19-50-52.
Hakimi said that he hasn’t had a big win like this in the past and is excited to receive the $13,000 selling bonus for selling the winning Win for Life ticket.
“I will put some back into the business, because you have to invest to make money,” Hakimi said. “I am also moving to a new house, so this will come in very handy.”
The Oregon Lottery will be at the Stayton Market and Deli on Thursday, April 25 at noon, to help him celebrate selling the winning ticket by providing him an oversized ceremonial check and handing out free Oregon Lottery Scratch-its to customers.
“When I share the story with friends and customers about selling the ticket, they all stop by and buy Lottery tickets,” he said. “When someone wins from a small town, people get excited. It makes people more optimistic that it could happen to them!”
This is the fourth Win for Life top prize Oregon Lottery players have won this year – all this Spring. The top prize for Win for Life is $1,000 per week for the rest of the life of the winner. Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Prior to these most recent top prize winners, there was a three-year drought from 2014-2017 with no Win for Life top prize winner.
The current streak of Win for Life luck started on February 12, when Robert East of Fairview won the top prize. East took the prize as a weekly $1,000 payment. He said he will use the prize for retirement and purchased the ticket at CJs Pub in Fairview.
Then in March it was an incredibly lucky month for Win for Life players, with two top prizes being awarded within three days of each other. On March 5, Sondra Lundy of Springfield claimed her top prize from a ticket she purchased at The Pour House Tavern.
Three days later, on March 8, Steven Henning of Eugene hit the third Win for Life prize. He purchased his ticket from Dari Mart in Eugene. All three winners opted to take their jackpots as weekly, $1,000 prizes, for the rest of their lives.
“If this keeps up, Win for Life is going to be the game to play in 2019,” said Patrick Johnson, Lottery spokesperson. “Normally there is a Win for Life top prize winner that comes every now and then, but sometimes the random nature of the Lottery will surprise you, just ask our winners!”
The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 are advised to contact the Lottery office and schedule an appointment to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $12 billion for economic development, public education, state parks, Veterans services and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org