Lotto winner claims her 48 thousand Christmas dollars

A winning ticket was purchased for the October twentieth lotto draw, but for almost two months, the fifty-seven thousand, five hundred dollar jackpot went unclaimed. That is, until this afternoon when Belize City resident Karen Lanza, turned up at the Tropical Gaming Company’s office on Queen Street. Just in time for the Christmas, she collected a cheque for forty-eight thousand, eight hundred and seventy-five dollars after taxes and she spoke to the media about how she plans to spend it.

Karen Lanza, Lotto Winner

“It was a quick pick and I’m happy and I’m thankful to god.”

Marion Ali, Love TV

“But this wasn’t in the recent past; this was what two, almost three months ago.”

Karen Lanza

“Yeah, I was away.”

Delahnie Bain

“So how did you find out that you won?”

Karen Lanza

Karen Lanza

“I check the website after every draw?”

Delahnie Bain

“So what was like for you knowing that you have these winnings here and you weren’t here to claim it?”

Karen Lanza

“Well, knowing that it was spent from before I bought it, and I know it’s safe here. I feel confident in just collecting it.”

Marion Ali

“So you decided this was the day that you wanna come in. Do you still buy?”

Karen Lanza

“Yes, I still buy.”

Marion Ali

“And I’m sure you’ve already planned out what you’re going to do with the money.”

Karen Lanza

“Yeah, like I said it’s spent already. I have a son in college so you know the expense there but I will squeeze a little for the St. Mary’s Feeding program; that’s my charity.”

Delahnie Bain

“So you continued buying even when you were abroad?”

Karen Lanza

“Yeah, I have somebody buy for me and I buy abroad, yes.”

Daniel Ortiz, Channel 7

“So you’re looking at the bigger jackpot now.”

Karen Lanza

“Of course, yeah.”

The current lotto jackpot is at one hundred and five thousand dollars.