Brick Couple Wins Nearly $1.3M In Lottery Scratch-off Game

BRICK, NJ — It was not the kind of text message most of us expect to receive from our spouse.

When Keith S. texted his wife and asked her if she was sitting down, she — like most of us — was expecting bad news.

Then Keith texted her a photo. No, not that kind of photo. It was a photo of a winning lottery ticket.

Keith had uncovered the $1.275 million jackpot on a Win for Life scratch-off ticket.

New Jersey Lottery officials said in a news release that Keith, who's a fan of the Win for Life and Crossword scratch-off games, had picked up some tickets with his morning coffee on his way to work. When he got to work and scratched off the Win for Life ticket, uncovering the jackpot, "it took all of his willpower not shout out in excitement," the release said.

He texted his wife and sent her the photo, but at first glance she thought it was only a $100 winner and put her phone away until later in the day. After a second review of picture she realized that it was a jackpot-winning ticket, the news release said.

Watch: Mega-Millionaire Lottery Winners: Where Are They Now?

Win for Life offers two options: $5,000 a month for life or a $1.275 million cash prize. Keith and his wife chose the cash, lottery officials said. They said they plan to get ahead of their bills and perhaps plan a small vacation.

Photo provided by the New Jersey Lottery