By Dan Hust
HORTONVILLE — Charanjit Kaur’s mistake cost her 10 bucks – and wound up landing her a cool $1 million.
Well, actually, the co-owner of the Kountry Korner gas station in Hortonville will be getting $660,300 from the New York Lottery, thanks to the government’s bite of her win.
But that’s still $660,300 more than Kaur thought she’d win when she accidentally sold a $10 Megaplier ticket on January 25 to a customer who wanted a $5 Quick Pick.
The new Megaplier game costs more because it multiplies the potential winnings 2-4 times over. But the unknown man, who’s not a regular at Kountry Korner, told Kaur he didn’t want the ticket.
“I decided to buy it,” Kaur explained at Wednesday’s official Lotto announcement inside her store.
The numbers the customer had chosen – 5-8-31-46-50 – matched the state’s random drawing, though Kaur and her husband, Gurdeep Singh, didn’t check on it until a few days later.
“I’m not a Lotto player,” Kaur admitted.
Turned out the addition of the Megaplier feature was enough to transform an already nice-sized $250,000 win into a million-dollar bonanza.
“All the family was dancing,” laughed Kaur, who then demonstrated the joyful jiggle. “I’m so excited! I’m so happy!”
Kaur and Singh have been selling Lotto tickets at their store since they bought it in 1992. They live above it and own another store in Orange County.
Kaur said a new house is now in the works, along with a car and a vacation to India.
Plus, the 51-year-old grandparents plan on providing more for their two children and two grandsons.
“They’re going to be happy,” Singh promised with a very wide grin.
But while they may take it a little easier, the couple has no plans to give up the business.
“Why sell the store?” said Singh. “It’s a lucky place!”