A Richford Vermont man is $650,000 richer after he retrieved a lottery ticket he had been given as a Christmas present and accidentally threw away. Steven LeClair's mother had given him a lottery ticket for the December 24th Tri-State Megabucks drawing. His mother had placed the ticket in a gift bag and LeClair threw the bag out, unaware that the ticket was inside.

LeClair's wife found out that the only winning ticket in the Megabucks lotto game had been sold at a market in Richford which prompted her to go through the trash where the ticket was found. Steve LeClair is an auto mechanic at Paquin's in St. Albans, Vt., his mother said, and plans to use some of the prize to buy her a home.

Newspapers around the world picked up the story of the Vermont Lottery winners and their discarded-then-recovered ticket. Vicki Fletcher, the cashier at the market where the ticket was bought says Mrs. LeClair comes in regularly to buy lottery tickets. In this case, Fletcher said, "She told me it was for the kids stockings." Fletcher also said, "Really nice people, it couldn't happen to anybody better."

So far Mr. LeClair is declining interviews but we here at LuckyLotto wish the LeClair's all the best. What a way to start out the New Year!

If the LeClair's had the ability to purchase an online lottery ticket and check for the latest winning numbers this near tragedy would not have happened. In Europe many lotteries have used online lottery ticket sales for years with great success. On most lottery websites players log in and establish an account and the software keeps track of ticket purchases and can automatically match winning tickets with individual player accounts eliminating the need to check numbers. Players also appreciate the ability to make an online lottery purchase from their home computers and cell phones. Presently the state of Illinois is seriously considering taking their state lottery online and the idea has been well received.

In 2010 most states are expected to offer players both Powerball and Mega Millions. Most states have been hard hit by the global recession and are looking for ways to boost ticket sales and attract new lottery players. States that offer both mega jackpot lotteries report increased ticket sales and lottery generated revenues. Now lottery players can double their chances to win one of the huge jackpots offered by Powerball and Mega Millions'