Waterford Resident and First-Time Lottery KENO Player Wins $10,000

ROCKY HILL, CT – Mallory Saunders of Waterford claimed a $10,000 KENO prize Wednesday on her very first play.

When asked how she felt about winning, she claimed she felt debt free, according to a release. Saunders had been asked by the retailer if she wanted to try KENO since she had never played before.

“I used birthdays, asked a stranger to pick a number, he picked 53," Saunders said in the release, "and I asked the retailer owner to pick a number."

Saunders was shocked when she saw her winning numbers displayed on the KENO monitor. She even checked her numbers through the official CT Lottery Mobile app.

“I said, ‘Did that really just happen?’ They grabbed a chair and told me to sit down,' Saunders said. "We [the retailer owner and Saunders] screamed together.”

A first-time winner, Saunders looks to use her winnings for different bills and expenses. Saunders told Lottery officials that she was going car shopping after leaving the CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill.

“I’ll pay my rent till January," Saunders said, "and buy a new car.”

Saunders won $5,000 for matching 8 out of 10 numbers on her $10 ticket in game #37583. Since the bonus multiplier was 2X, Saunders’ prize was automatically multiplied to $10,000.

Her winning ticket was sold at Veterans Convenience, located on 528 Gold Star Highway in Groton.
KENO offers a chance to win every four minutes, 7 days a week, while the wagering system is operational. The more numbers matched, the higher the potential prize value.

To play KENO, a playslip is completed by the customer who chooses 1 - 10 spots (numbers from 1 - 80), or selects a Quick Pick. Customers choose how much to wager on each game and the number of consecutive games to play, while a “Bonus Multiplier” option can be added for a chance to win bigger prizes.

The CT Lottery reminds the public that purchasers must be 18 or older, and to please play responsibly.