The lucky winner,
Diane Babbin of Westmoreland County, shared that she’s a single mom of two older children. She said on Friday, April 28, 2023, her son was sick with a fever, so she asked her mother to go to the SHOP ‘n SAVE to purchase a thermometer and a Scratch-Off.
“Me and my mom always play Scratch-Offs together,”
said Babbin. “My mom ended up scratching the ticket in the car and called me saying, ‘You have to come get me. I can’t drive home.’ I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ She’s a senior, and she was in shock!”
At that moment, Babbin learned she won $1 million on the Pennsylvania Lottery Scratch-Off, Millionaire Maker.
“My mom apologized that she scratched the ticket without me because we usually scratch them together. When I got there, I asked her about the thermometer, and she was in such shock that she forgot to buy it!” said Babbin.
Babbin, who said she works as a certified nursing assistant, said she lives with her parents so she can help them, and they help take care of her children.
“I’m a single mom, so I wouldn’t be able to give my kids the life they have without the help from my parents,” said Babbin. “My daughter is going to college in the fall, and my son is in high school. He’s very active, including being part of the tennis team, bowling team, and in the choir.”
“We’ve talked a lot about what we’ll do with the prize,” said Babbin. “For now, it just means less worries, but maybe we’ll buy a home. We’re renting now.”
“You can’t win it if you aren’t in it!” added Babbin.
“Diane’s story is one of perseverance and strength, especially coming off the heels of Mother’s Day,”
said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “We’re glad that despite her busy life, she can find some entertainment by playing our Scratch-Offs. I’d also like to note that May is Older Americans Month, and players like Diane are helping the Lottery generate proceeds for vital programs seniors rely on every day, like transportation, property tax and rent rebates, free meals and more.”
The PA Lottery Scratch-Off, Millionaire Maker, went on sale on February 21, 2023, and is a $20 game that offers top prizes of $1 million.
Scratch-Offs are distributed at random, meaning the Pennsylvania Lottery and its retailers do not know where winning tickets will be sold. The Lottery learns where winning tickets are sold only after a prize has been claimed.
To determine if they have won a prize, players can review the ticket, scan it at a Lottery retailer or use the Ticket Checker feature on the Lottery’s
Official App. Winners should immediately sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at 1-800-692-7481 and file a claim at the nearest
Lottery office.
Prizes must be claimed and tickets validated before winners can be identified. Scratch-Off prizes expire one year from the game's end-sale date posted at
palottery.com. All lottery prizes more than $5,000 are subject to applicable withholding. Visit palottery.com to review rules, chances of winning and learn how to play our traditional and online games.
Newest Scratch-Offs >
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About Us: May is Older Americans Month. The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to
programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed more than $33.8 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals.
Visit the
Winners and
Benefits pages at palottery.com to review how much money each county receives in Lottery prizes and funding to benefit older Pennsylvanians.
Players must be 18 or older.
Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.
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