Slater Lotto winner gets big check

(Sydney Stonner/Democrat-News) John Markovich [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

According to Markovich, he discovered that he had won on May 17, the day after the drawing.

"I went right to the store after Mass," he said in a press release from the Missouri Lottery. "I checked the ticket then. That's when I knew it had hit."

Markovich, pharmacist and City Pharmacy owner, had some convincing to do after realizing he had won the jackpot.

"I was talking to my girlfriend on the phone, and I told her I won $2 million," he said. "She thought I was kidding her."

In addition to his girlfriend, Markovich also had to prove it to his best friend, who he visited next.

"He thought I was dying, because I was so white," he said. "I had a bottle of Asti and a cigar, and I said, 'Have a drink!'"

At first, his friend didn't want to celebrate at 9 a.m., but after Markovich explained what they were celebrating, both men enjoyed a drink together.

When asked about plans for the windfall, Markovich said he was "sure we'll have a little trip in January to Cancun."

In terms of advice for fellow Lottery players still waiting to catch their lucky break, Markovich said, "you can't win if you don't play."

Markovich used Quick Pick to select the winning numbers, which were 2, 4, 5, 8, 19 and 42.

In addition to Markovich's prize, the retail location, City Pharmacy, received a check for $20,000, 1 percent of the advertised jackpot.

Lotto is a numbers game that features jackpots starting at $1 million. Players choose six out of 44 numbers and receive two plays for $1. Since the game began in 1986, 191 Lotto jackpots have been awarded.

Watch Markovich receive his check:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu_qyp0PE...