A family-run bait and tackle shop in Brownsville is now part of lotto history after selling a $78 million ticket.
Owners of Gordon’s Bait and Tackle Shop, located on South Padre Island Highway, say it’s been nonstop excitement since the news broke, but the best part is knowing one of their customers just became a multi-millionaire.
Gordon’s Bait and Tackle has operated as a family-run business since 1972.
Gas, gum, and fishing gear is what they are known for, but after the Texas Lotto announced they sold a $78 million ticket, co-owner Gary Williams says it’s all people are talking about.
“But the main thing is we’ve been getting calls from people all over congratulating us for a big win,” Williams said.
For over 30 years, Gordon’s has sold lottery tickets, but Williams says they’ve never seen a jackpot like this.
“It was just unbelievable, after all these years, you know. I knew someday this might happen, but never knew it would happen like this,” Williams said.
RELATED STORY: Winner of $78 million Lotto Texas ticket purchased in Brownsville has yet to come forward
The winning ticket’s cash value is $43.6 million before taxes.
While Gordon’s Bait and Tackle won’t get a cash reward, Williams says knowing one of their longtime customers won is prize enough.
“Only in the Mega and the Powerball do they pay incentives, but for this game the store gets nothing,” Williams said.
But Williams says there’s still a silver lining, the buzz has brought in more customers, many hoping for some lotto luck of their own.
“Maybe today I am the lucky winner,” customer Luis Romo said. “Let’s pray to God, you never know.”
The jackpot was the result of a record 116 drawings without a winner, making it the sixth largest in Texas Lottery history. But rather than focus on the fame of it all, Williams is just happy for his customer.
“We always like to see our customers win, you know, if they’re a winner, we’re a winner,” Williams said.
The Texas Lottery says they are still waiting for the winner to come forward.
Officials recommend signing the ticket, keeping it in a safe place, and contacting the Texas Lottery to claim the prize.
Watch the video above for the full story.

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In a commemorative event held at the Saluting Battery at the Upper Barakka Gardens, in Valletta, National Lottery plc celebrated the start of the takeover of the national lottery of Malta.
Earlier in the morning National Lottery plc a subsidiary of the IZI Group was granted an exclusive licence to operate the national lottery of Malta which includes the popular games of Lotto and Super5 by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) for the next ten years.
In a short speech to commemorate this defining moment for the Group, Mr. Johann Schembri – CEO of National Lottery plc explained how today marks a new era for the national lottery of Malta. ‘Today is culmination of years of work that we have undertaken as a team. I am very grateful to have found a team of people that have put their life on hold to ensure that we deliver a new national lottery service in record time,’ commented Mr. Schembri as he thanked the hundreds of employees that form part of the IZI Group. ‘We are committed to deliver an innovative, forward-looking and above all a fair and transparent national lottery service, powered by the world’s leading lottery technology company, International Game Technology (IGT). We are also proud and privileged to be the first fully owned Maltese company to operate what essentially is the most important gaming operation in Malta which now allows our Group to take an active role in all the land-based gaming business verticals. Our aspiration is to take the national lottery of Malta to unprecedented levels in line with the highest operating standards found in Europe.
Mr. Schembri thanked all the stakeholders that were involved in making this project a reality, including the Ministry for the Economy, the Privatisation Unit, the Malta Gaming Authority, and representatives of the Lottery Agents (the Malta Chamber of SMEs, LRU, GLAA), Bank of Valletta plc, and all bondholders for the trust that they have shown in National Lottery plc.
In his address, the Minister of the Economy, European Funds and Arts, Silvio Schembri said that National Lottery plc will be keeping alive the popular and beloved games of Lotto, Super5 and other games, whilst at the same time adhering to strict responsible gaming principles. “I would like to thank the Priviatisation Unit who led the whole process as well as the Malta Gaming Authority for the technical assistance so that today we have a new Maltese Lottery operator. Above all I would like to thank and wish the best to National Lottery plc for the next ten years,” said Minister Silvio Schembri.
National Lottery plc is expected to bring several improvements to the existing games, including improved odds for Lotto, the elimination of prize capping, a new Tuesday Lotto draw and larger jackpots for the Super5 game. National Lottery plc will also introduce new games to enrich the current portfolio, including add-ons to the Super5 game (Super5 Plus and Super5-4-3-2-1) and the introduction of a new digit game known as Pick3. The popular game of Keno will be distributed under a new brand name – FastKeno.
National Lottery plc has also managed to acquire the rights to distribute Malta’s most popular sports betting brand – IZIBET which from today will be available through more than 200 points of sale across Malta and Gozo.
National Lottery plc takes over the operation of the national lottery of Malta from Maltco Lotteries today, with the first Lotto draw earmarked for Saturday 9^th July 2022 at 20:35hrs, followed by the first ever Tuesday Lotto draw on the 12^th July 2022 also at 8.30pm on TVM.

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Thrifter Spots Secondhand Boots—Can’t Believe What Sole Reveals: ‘Jackpot’  Newsweek
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A National Lottery prize worth £1,000,000 has yet to be claimed from a prize drawn two weeks ago. EuroMillions National Lottery players are being urged to double-check their tickets for the chance to claim the life-changing prize.
EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker guarantees to create a millionaire in every draw but the winner from the EuroMillions draw on November 4 is yet to claim their prize. For every EuroMillions line played, UK players automatically receive a EuroMillions Millionaire Maker code printed on their ticket and this particular millionaire-making winning ticket was purchased in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area.
The winning code for the prize was HPCF58869 and the ticket-holder has until May 3, 2026 to claim their prize. Anyone not in possession of their ticket but who believes they have a genuine claim can still make a claim in writing to Allwyn, but it must be within 30 days of the draw.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: “Anyone in the lovely Dorset area of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – it’s time to search through handbags, purses, trouser pockets and the car – a ticket is yet to be found which is worth £1M. Someone who bought a ticket along the southern coastline is now a millionaire and we are desperate to unite this lucky ticket-holder with their winnings.
“Do you live or work in the area, do you have family and friends there who you were visiting or were you just passing through? We really want to find this mystery ticket-holder and pay out their life-changing prize.”
If no-one comes forward with the winning ticket before the prize claim deadline, then the prize money, plus all the interest it has generated, will go to help National Lottery-funded projects across the UK. With all National Lottery draws, players have 180 days from the day of the draw to claim their prize if they have the winning ticket. Anyone who has any queries or who believes they have the winning ticket for any of the National Lottery draws within the 180-day deadline should call the National Lottery Line on 0333 234 5050 or email help@national-lottery.co.uk
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WhatsApp Code ‘Bhai Baccha A Gaya’: 14 held buying Marijuana in Gachibowli
Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on drug consumption in the city’s IT corridor, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) apprehended fourteen individuals, including software professionals, a student, and other private sector employees, for attempting to buy marijuana during a decoy operation in Gachibowli on Saturday.
Buyers from various professions
Those arrested were identified as Naveen (31, online trader), Ayush (22, student), Nikhil (29, engineer), Sindura (26, architect), Hasan (34, property manager), Kranti (28, IT employee), Akhil (28, dental technician), Shiva (32, business relationship manager), Sandesh (34, freelance ad professional), Sai Raj (31, real estate sales executive), Akhil (26, travel agency owner), Swamy (27, driver), Thushar (24, IT employee), and Arpith (24, IT employee).
Operation based on intelligence inputs
According to Ch Rupesh, Superintendent of Police, EAGLE officers in plain clothes carried out the operation based on intelligence inputs about a Maharashtra-based repeat offender named Sandeep, who supplies marijuana to customers in Hyderabad’s IT hub.
Dealer’s Modus Operandi
Sandeep reportedly arrives with five kilograms of marijuana, split into 100 packets of 50 grams each, selling them for Rs 3,000 per packet.
“He maintains a list of over 100 regular customers with contact details and uses coded WhatsApp messages like ‘bhai baccha a gaya bhai’ to alert buyers,” explained SP Rupesh.
Caught in the Act
All fourteen consumers were caught red-handed and tested positive for cannabis on the spot using urine drug test kits. “One of the accused came along with his wife and four-year-old son.
While the woman and child were let off, the man tested positive. In another case, both husband and wife attempted to buy marijuana. Though the woman tried to bluff her way out, both tested positive,” said the SP.
Further investigation underway
Digital evidence, including WhatsApp logs and contact lists from seized phones, is being analysed to identify additional buyers linked to Sandeep.
The SP added that the 86 remaining regular customers on the dealer’s list have been advised to seek rehabilitation before enforcement action is initiated against them.

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Playtech and SkillOnNet confirm expanded bingo partnership  Gambling Insider
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