Merritt lotto winner excited to share $400,000 prize with his kids

A Merritt man has won more than $400,000 playing Keno.

Patrick Lamour only started playing Keno last year, according to a media release from the B.C. Lottery Corporation.

He bought the winning ticket at the Shell in Merritt, which ended up netting him $400,052.50. He always uses his children’s birthdays to select his numbers.

“I was at the store checking the ticket and I thought something was wrong with the machine,” Lamour said in the release. “I scanned it at a self-checker and then had the retailer scan it as well to be sure.”

He was excited to break the news with his kids.

“I called my daughter and son right away,” he said. “They were more excited than I was.”

Lamour’s plans with some of his winnings is to have a celebratory meal with his children, and also gift them part of the prize.

He suspects it will be a while before he decides how to spend the rest.

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