Man wins $2.5M lottery jackpot with numbers inspired by dream

A 54-year-old renovation contractor from Malaysia's Sarawak state has won RM10.17 million (US$2.49 million) in a lottery jackpot on two numbers he said were inspired by a dream.

He hit the Toto 4D Jackpot 1 in the Sept. 26 draw with the numbers 8622 and 5765, Malaysian daily The Sun reported.

"It was just the second time I bet on these numbers. I never expected the numbers to bring me such a huge win. It is something that I am still taking in," he said in a statement issued on Oct. 7 by STM Lottery, which runs the Sports Toto games.

The winner, a father of two who was not named, has been a Sports Toto customer for more than 30 years and spends about RM50 ($12) a week on the Toto 4D Jackpot, according to The Borneo Post.

Ticket bought over lunch

He was having lunch near one of his renovation sites when he noticed a Sports Toto outlet beside the restaurant, Free Malaysia Today reported.

"Something made me decide to buy the same numbers again. I did not think much of it at the time," he said.

He checked the results on the Sports Toto website that night and appeared calm and relaxed when he claimed the prize at STM Lottery's head office in Kuala Lumpur.

The payout was RM10,169,557.55, plus a System Play bonus of RM672, according to The Star.

"I intend to keep the money prudently and set aside a portion for the future well-being of my children. I believe it is important to plan carefully before making any major decisions," he said when asked about his plans for the winnings, The Sun reported.

STM Lottery, formerly Sports Toto Malaysia, is a subsidiary of Sports Toto Berhad and offers eight games drawn three days a week, according to the group's corporate profile.