December 17, 2010 -- With Christmas just a week away, shoppers are experiencing long lines while shopping.  Such was the case for Catherine Faulkner of Stratford at her local Stop & Shop.  The recently installed CT Lottery Instant Ticket Vending Machine stationed at the store was a welcome sight.  Unlike the line at the Customer Service desk, there was no wait at the vending machine.  Faulkner’s fortuitous choice to use the lottery’s vending machine to purchase a “20X The Cash 4th Edition” ticket rewarded her with a lucky $20,000 top prize winning ticket.

“When I scratched and saw the ‘20X’ symbol, I was afraid to scratch the rest of the ticket,” said Faulkner with a laugh while recalling the excitement she felt when she revealed a $1,000 prize amount.  According to the game rules, a 20X symbol multiplies the prize 20 times; making Faulkner a $20,000 instant winner.  “I will definitely use the instant ticket vending machine again,” Faulkner quipped.

Faulkner, who works in the annuities department at Prudential Insurance in Hartford, recently came to CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill to claim a check for $13,706 (prize value after taxes).  For the time being, Faulkner plans to deposit her prize money in the bank.  “It’s kind of like a safety net, it just being there.”

For selling Faulkner’s top prize winning ticket, Stop & Shop, located on East Main Street in Stratford, will receive a $200 bonus check from the CT Lottery.