Amber Martin is a mother from Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was just starting her day when a simple decision changed her life forever. Mrs. Martin had just dropped off her children before she started a day of running errands. Before beginning her busy, Mrs. Martin decided to stop for a cup of coffee at a Sparky Mart and while there she bought a scratch-off ticket.

Surprisingly, Mrs. Martin’s ticket was worth $1 million. Martin told lottery officials that “I never thought I could win a million dollars!” She had just won the top prize of the Hoosier Millions scratch-off game. Martin will earn annual payments of $50,000 before taxes for the next 20 years.

With her winnings, Martin has stated that she will buy a horse and possibly a new kitchen. Her and her husband, John Martin, have decided to proceed with caution with their winnings. Mrs. Martin stated that she would like to learn how to make money off of the money they have earned.

So far the Hoosier Lottery has paid $6.9 billion in total prizes to players. $799.5 million has been paid to retailers in commissions from the sales of tickets. Since the lottery’s inception in 1989, $3.3 billion in total transfers to the state of Indiana has taken place.


- 2008-10-20