A Lilydale dad’s weekly routine of treating himself to an Instant Scratch-Its ticket has delivered him a remarkable $250,000 top prize win, admitting he couldn’t sleep all night from excitement.

The Melburnian’s top prize-winning $10 Instant Scratch-Its ticket was purchased at Lilydale Village Lotto & News, Lilydale Village Shopping Centre, Shop 5/51 – 59 Anderson St, Lilydale.

“I was at home when I scratched it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” he laughed when we reached out to him.

“I didn’t sleep a wink all night – I was tossing and turning thinking about it!

“I like to purchase a ticket every week. It’s a nice little routine for me!

“Sometimes I try my luck at different newsagencies, and this time I thought I’d give Lilydale Village Lotto & News a go.

“I’ve told some of my immediate family and they’re very happy for me!”

When asked how the victorious Victorian planned to spend his instant windfall, he immediately confessed he’d take his son overseas for a holiday.

“One of my boys is coming with me to go on an overseas holiday. We’ve been planning to go overseas for a long time, but the pandemic has gotten in the way,” he revealed.

“It will also help me boost my retirement plans too!”

Lilydale Village Lotto & News owner Dhaval Shah said he was very excited to have sold his first top prize Instant Scratch-Its ticket to a regular customer.

“I’ve never sold a top prize Instant Scratch-Its ticket before, and when the customer came in to claim his prize, I thought he was joking!” he said.

“We’re very happy for our customer! We’re very glad to see the win go to a lovely, regular and loyal customer in the local community, and I say that from the bottom of my heart!

“Congratulations to the winning man, you really deserve this win.”