It started as a joke for Sal Bentivegna, 28, to taunt his mother.

They were playing the penny slots machine in Atlantic City, and losing. So jokingly Sal suggested his mother say a prayer to win the lottery – and ask her God for a million dollars.

It was very much a case of ‘dumb luck’ for the Lifschutz’s of Woodmere, Nassau County.

They picked their numbers like a lot of people do, based on birthdays and ages of their family and friends.

Joe Vaeth, 55, just won another $1 Million on the lottery.

His wife, Angie, never plays – she says there has to be one ‘sane’ person in the family!

The Spanish lottery is about to get privatised, with the Government expecting to raise in the region of $10 Billion.

Spain hopes the sale of a 30% share in the national lottery will make a decent dent in the countries budget deficit.

He may have shared the biggest ever Hong Kong Mark Six win, but Jagpal Singh says he’ll still keep his job.

Indian born Jagpal, 32, and a Hong Kong resident just collected his HK$44.5 Million share from winning Friday’s Mark Six lottery.

Residents of New Hampshire in the USA are celebrating with a ‘Tax Repeal Tea Party’.

As of yesterday, there is no longer any State tax payable on lottery winnings in New Hampshire.

David Rennie thought the machine had broken when he checked his Lotto Max ticket at the ‘Chevron Town Pantry’ in Campbell River, B.C.

The store clerk turned to David to say their lotto machine had just gone down – but then the blank screen started flashing ‘WINNER’ and the machine blared out the winners tune!

Those of you who are children of the 70’s may remember the 6 Million Dollar Man.

Well now we have the Million Dollar Marine.

This US marine  didn’t need rebuilding however.

Jacki and Gilbert Cisneros already made a bunch of charity donations and set up a scholarship fund at the University of Southern California.

But the generous lottery winning couple are back in the news again, with another million dollar donation.

Kendall Warren, 61, just became the latest big Mega Millions winner, after matching all 6 numbers in Friday’s draw.

He actually didn’t realise he had won until Monday – the $27 Million dollar ticket just sat in his wallet all weekend.