Lottery winner takes mum’s advice, collects $407 500  

Claude Reece, the latest winner of the Barbados Lottery’s Mega 6 jackpot, was presented with a cheque for $407 500 at iMart Sheraton on Wednesday after matching all the winning numbers from a November draw.

Reece described the moment he realised he had won as one of disbelief and relief. “Oh, I feel good about winning the Mega 6,” he said, explaining that he regularly plays the game using the same numbers. He admitted that at first, he did not realise he had won anything and nearly discarded the ticket.

It was advice passed down from his mother that ultimately led to the discovery, he said. She had always told him: “Do not throw away old tickets or old documents too quick” – advice that prompted him to recheck his slips. After being told by someone to review all his tickets, he decided to search the Mega 6 draw history on his phone. “I pressed the button on my phone, and it showed me the 6th of November had my numbers,” he recalled.

Reece said the realisation made him uneasy at first, as he had continued buying tickets after that date, unsure whether he had already missed his chance to claim the prize. “This is the best thing that ever happened to me,” he added.

A long-time lottery player, Reece said he has been playing since the 1980s and became more serious in the 1990s, though not consistently. “I don’t play every week because sometimes I forget,” he said, noting that this was also why the winning ticket sat unnoticed for weeks.

As for his plans, Reece said the winnings will go towards practical needs and family. He intends to do work on his house, repair or replace his car, and assist with educating his grandchildren.

Brand specialist at the Barbados Lottery, Anya Frederick, confirmed that Reece won the prize last year and reiterated the importance of holding on to tickets. She reminded players that tickets remain valid for 90 days and encouraged them to check old bags and documents carefully.

Frederick also highlighted recent changes to the Mega 6 game, which took effect on December 7. The starting jackpot has increased from $375 000 to $500 000, while non-jackpot prizes for matching five, four and three numbers have been doubled. The ticket price was also doubled from $2 to $4.

According to Frederick, the response from the public has been positive, with players welcoming the faster-growing jackpots. She noted that these adjustments are designed to produce larger jackpots much quicker, pointing to previous Mega 6 prizes that reached close to $4 million.

Proceeds from the Barbados Lottery support four key beneficiaries: the Barbados Olympic Association, the Barbados Cricket Association, the Barbados Turf Club and the National Sports Council.