Uncasville Man Really Gets 'Lucky for Life'

On March 29, Uncasville bartender, Daryl Tibbetts and one other “Lucky for Life” ticket holder  became Connecticut’s newest lottery winners.

They claimed the regional game’s second highest prize, worth $25,000. The top prize in New England’s Lucky for Life game is worth up to $1,000 a day, every day, for life.

The winning Lucky for Life numbers on that date were 5 - 8 - 11 - 34 – 38.  Tibbetts’ “Quick Pick” matched the first five winning numbers drawn, but missed matching the Lucky Ball number, 8. 

Across New England, 126,888 winning Lucky for Life tickets were purchased on that date; 33,588 were sold in Connecticut, with prizes ranging from $2 to $25,000.

“I scanned my ticket in a Ticket Checker and couldn’t believe it when I saw the word, ‘Congratulations’ followed by a number with a lot of zeros,” Tibbetts told Lottery officials, with a laugh.

“I kept counting and recounting the zeros.”

Tibbetts arrived at Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill recently to accept a prize check for $17,075 (value after taxes).  “This is incredible.  I’m going to pay off some bills, my motorcycle, and my student loans,” said Tibbetts, grinning from ear to ear.

Tibbetts purchased his winning ticket at Cumberland Farms located at 412 Laurel Hill Road in Norwich.

The overall odds of winning a prize in Lucky for Life are 1 in 6.6.

The Lucky for Life regional game is unique because its top prize value is based on the longevity of the winner.  The minimum guaranteed amount a top prize winner could receive is $7,280,000 ($7,000 a week for 20 years), but winners who live longer than that will receive prize payments each week for the remainder of their natural life. 

Tickets cost $2 and are sold in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Drawings are held every Monday and Thursday night. In Connecticut, tickets expire 180 days from the drawing date. 

There are 10 ways to win.  Players must select five numbers out a field of 40, and one Lucky Ball number from a field of 21.

Those matching all six numbers drawn win the game’s up to $1,000 a day for life top prize which is guaranteed for a minimum of 20 years, but will continue to be paid out for the duration of each winner’s lifetime - so winners who live long lives will win more!

CT Lottery officials encourage winners to sign their tickets immediately to establish ownership.  Winning tickets must be redeemed in the state where purchased.