$3 Scratch-Off Ticket Leads to $1.5 Million in Winnings for N.J. Couple on Their Way to Dinner

A mates successful New Jersey had a time to retrieve erstwhile they earned $1.5 cardinal from a lottery scratch-off summons purchased connected their measurement to dinner.

The New Jersey Lottery announced connected Monday, June 2, that an Essex County Lottery subordinate won "one of nan 3 coveted apical prizes exceeding $1 cardinal successful nan Win for Life! Scratch-Off game."

The fortunate subordinate bought nan winning summons astatine Lucky 7 Deli, located astatine 397 Centre Street successful Nutley, while eating retired pinch their spouse.

One wanted to bargain tickets successful 1 town, but nan different insisted connected purchasing from a shop they didn’t typically visit, nan news merchandise said.

“Like they ever perceive to me! So, I spell successful and get a $10 summons and a mates of nan $3 Win for Lifes," nan subordinate recalled.

According to nan New Jersey Lottery's website, to triumph a prize from a “Win for Life!” lottery scratch-off ticket, players must lucifer immoderate of their numbers to immoderate of nan winning numbers. The prize will beryllium what is shown for nan winning number.

Players tin besides uncover a “10X” awesome to triumph 10 times nan prize shown for that symbol. Other prizes see a free $3 ticket, which was what nan victor initially thought would beryllium revealed from their scratch-off.

"I’m successful shock,” said nan winner. "I scratched nan ticket. I saw nan prize. I thought it was going to opportunity ‘free ticket.’ It conscionable didn’t click pinch me."

The news merchandise states that nan subordinate selected nan prize’s annuity value, which guarantees a full of astatine slightest $1.5 cardinal dispersed complete 25 yearly payments. The rate action would person been a azygous gross lump sum prize costs of $875,200, per nan New Jersey Lottery's website.

The website states that aft nan winning summons is verified, payments will beryllium "issued annually successful beforehand starting connected aliases astir nan day day of nan declare and will proceed for nan life of nan winner."

Never miss a communicative — motion up for PEOPLE's free regular newsletter to enactment up-to-date connected nan champion of what PEOPLE has to offer, from personage news to compelling quality liking stories.

“It was conscionable truthful random. This really changes our lives. We’re ever stressed astir bills. This makes life a batch easier," nan victor said.