$50 Lottery Bet Turns Into $342K Win For Medford Resident

MEDFORD, MA — A resident is planning to put her winnings toward her education after a big State Lottery win.

Heather McLaughlin won a $342,781 prize on a $50 bet while playing the Massachusetts State Lottery's "Wheel of Bonuses" online game. According to the MSL, McLaughlin claimed the $342,781 prize before taxes at the Lottery's headquarters in Dorchester. She plans to put the winnings toward her own education.

"Wheel Of Bonuses" is an online-only Instant game that includes a progressive jackpot, which can increase as the game is played. Players reveal groups of matching symbols for prizes, while collecting bonus wheel symbols can activate additional prize features. The game is among the eInstant games offered through Mass Lottery Online, which officially launched on July 27.

McLaughlin is not the first person to win a large prize playing the game. Milton resident Richard Theberge won a $68,283.97 progressive jackpot before taxes on a $10 bet while playing "Wheel Of Bonuses" in August. Theberge's prize was among the first prizes of at least $50,000 after the launch of Mass Lottery Online.

Prizes of $50,000 or more won through online games must be claimed at the Lottery's headquarters in Dorchester. Players must also be at least 21 years old and physically located in Massachusetts when playing online or making a deposit to their account.

The Massachusetts State Lottery shares a daily list of winning tickets and drawing results that can be found online.

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