When Erik Martineau called home last week to ask his wife Melissa what she’d think if he said, “Ooops, I did it again” about winning a second top prize in a CT Lottery scratch game in less than one month, she was certain he was playing a joke. After all, he’d recently told her he was going to win another lottery jackpot. So, Melissa told him to come home and prove it. And, he did.
Stunning his wife as well as their family and friends, in less than one month’s time, Martineau, a self-employed plumbing contractor from Hamden, won two top prizes totaling $1,020,000 with CT Lottery scratch games. Melissa’s reaction? “That’s crazy, just crazy.”
On July 11, Martineau’s luck landed him a $20,000 top prize offered in “20X the Cash.” Just two weeks later, a ticket purchase at Cumberland Farms, on River Road in Shelton, delivered him a $1,000,000 prize for taking a chance on a recently released Lottery scratch game, “$70 Million Blockbuster.”
But, getting home to show Melissa the proof she needed didn’t prove to be easy. After making the call, Martineau’s truck engine failed to turn over. “I had to call AAA to come get the battery started,” Martineau. Waiting patiently wasn’t easy, but the service call was soon answered, and Martineau was on his way to celebrate with his family.
Martineau keeps busy running his business, Martineau Plumbing. Though he plans to take time off in the future for a vacation break, Martineau joked that his boss was tough, and so he planned to head back to work later that day after depositing his prize check in the bank. High on the priority list for his windfall was a plan to ensure his family’s financial future.
Childhood friends since the age of 12, teenage sweethearts after that, and now married, Melissa Martineau couldn’t be more pleased for Erik. “He’s a hard worker, honest, a good guy.” And according to her, he was the “best paperboy” her family ever had.
Lottery officials presented Martineau with a ceremonial check for $1,000,000, and also a cashable check in the amount $434,842. The top prize in $70 Million Blockbuster is payable as either an annuity or lump sum; Martineau opted for the one-time cash lump sum, valued at $621,200 (before taxes).
Cumberland Farms in Shelton is a winner, too. For selling a $70 Million Blockbuster top prize ticket, they’ll receive a $10,000 bonus check from the CT Lottery. Sales for $70 Million Blockbuster began on April 23, 2008. There are seven $1,000,000 top prizes in the game. Martineau is the first to claim a top prize, six more remain available. Overall odds in $70 Million Blockbuster are 1 in 3.77. Tickets for 20X the Cash went on sale on June 17, 2008. Overall odds in 20X the Cash are 1 in 4.08. Odds and number of winners for CT Lottery scratch games vary based on sales, distribution and claims.
