Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Erica elated: Lotto booth owner celebrates $24m jackpot winner, reminds customers, ‘If you don’t have a ticket, you don’t have a chance’
The $24 million Lotto jackpot may still be waiting to be claimed, but excitement was already running high at the El Dorado Road booth where the winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased.
I.A.N News spoke with booth owner Erica Holder-Ali on Monday, August 24, after the National Lotteries Control Board confirmed that a single player had won Saturday night’s $24,027,490.65 jackpot.
After the 10 per cent government tax is deducted, the winner stands to receive $21,624,741.59.
Holder-Ali, owner of Erica’s Fruit Plus Everything, said she was not at her booth when she realised the winning ticket had been sold there.
She was at another Lotto booth nearby watching cricket when an operator asked whether anyone had won the Lotto.
“I said, okay, let me check and see,” Holder-Ali recalled.
When she checked and saw the winning location associated with her business, she said she began screaming before running out to share the news.
“It was really, really enjoyable and surprising,” she said.
Holder-Ali said this was not the first major win associated with her business. She recalled that the shop had previously sold a major scratch-game prize several months ago.
The business owner, who grew up in the area, said she does not yet know who purchased the winning ticket.
“Nobody has come forward,” she said.
She believes, however, that the winner could be someone from the surrounding community, noting that many people who live or work in the area regularly visit the shop.
Since news broke that the $24 million winning ticket was sold there, Holder-Ali said the booth has continued to attract customers.
But she said the atmosphere at the business has always been one of familiarity, laughter and community.
“Family, friends, laughter. This is how this booth is, this is how this shop is,” she said.
With the winner still unidentified, Holder-Ali had one simple message for her customers: take a chance.
Recalling a conversation with a customer who said he did not normally play Lotto, she told him, “If you don't have a ticket, you don't have a chance.”
“You just have to take a chance,” Holder-Ali said.— Story by I.A.N News
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Erica elated: Lotto booth owner celebrates $24m jackpot winner, reminds customers, ‘If you don’t have a ticket, you don’t have a chance’
The $24 million Lotto jackpot may still be waiting to be claimed, but excitement was already running high at the El Dorado Road booth where the winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased.
I.A.N News spoke with booth owner Erica Holder-Ali on Monday, August 24, after the National Lotteries Control Board confirmed that a single player had won Saturday night’s $24,027,490.65 jackpot.
After the 10 per cent government tax is deducted, the winner stands to receive $21,624,741.59.
Holder-Ali, owner of Erica’s Fruit Plus Everything, said she was not at her booth when she realised the winning ticket had been sold there.
She was at another Lotto booth nearby watching cricket when an operator asked whether anyone had won the Lotto.
“I said, okay, let me check and see,” Holder-Ali recalled.
When she checked and saw the winning location associated with her business, she said she began screaming before running out to share the news.
“It was really, really enjoyable and surprising,” she said.
Holder-Ali said this was not the first major win associated with her business. She recalled that the shop had previously sold a major scratch-game prize several months ago.
The business owner, who grew up in the area, said she does not yet know who purchased the winning ticket.
“Nobody has come forward,” she said.
She believes, however, that the winner could be someone from the surrounding community, noting that many people who live or work in the area regularly visit the shop.
Since news broke that the $24 million winning ticket was sold there, Holder-Ali said the booth has continued to attract customers.
But she said the atmosphere at the business has always been one of familiarity, laughter and community.
“Family, friends, laughter. This is how this booth is, this is how this shop is,” she said.
With the winner still unidentified, Holder-Ali had one simple message for her customers: take a chance.
Recalling a conversation with a customer who said he did not normally play Lotto, she told him, “If you don't have a ticket, you don't have a chance.”
“You just have to take a chance,” Holder-Ali said.— Story by I.A.N News
TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT CALL 868-225–3250
Subscribe to I.A.N NETWORK YOUTUBE: youtube.com/@I.A.N.Network
FOLLOW I.A.N NETWORK LIVE ON:
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/tntcrimewatch
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/i.a.n.network
TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@i.a.n.network
TO ADVERTISE CONTACT: (868) 225-4327 / (868) 225-3250 / (868) 389-7018
TO MAKE AN ANONYMOUS CRIME REPORT, WHATSAPP (868) 294-4081
#LockedOn #NewsBeforeNews #BreakingNews #BreakingNewsTT #News #TodayNews #LatestNews #LiveNews #NewsUpdate #Trinidad #Tobago #TNT #TrinidadAndTobago #Caribbean #CaribbeanNews #Crime #CrimeNews #TrueCrime #Investigation #Police #LawAndOrder #PoliticalNews #PublicInterest #Hurricane #WeatherAlert #CarCrash #RoadAccident #Trending #TrendingNow #Trendingshorts #Shorts #YouTubeShorts #Viral #ViralNews #LiveStream #WatchNow #NewsToday #StayInformed #CommunityNews #PublicSafety #Breaking #Exclusive #DevelopingStory #Emergency #CurrentAffairs #Journalism #Reporter #Media #NewYork #London #Miami #Travel #Lifestyle #Motivation #InstaDaily #FollowMe #Like #Hot #Wetting #Ian #Livestream #Truth #Awareness #Information #CitizenJournalism #InvestigativeReporting #CrimeInvestigation #EmergencyResponse #TopStory #HeadlineNews #NewsAlert #LocalNews #WorldNews #MustWatch #DailyNews #PublicInterestNews #JusticeForAll #CommunityWatch #SafetyFirst #TrendingNews #ViralContent #FYP #ExplorePage #DigitalMedia #SocialMedia #ContentCreator
