Massachusetts man, lifelong Celtics fan, first $1 million prize winner in State Lottery’s new Celtics Banner 18 game; here is what he plans to do with the winnings

DORCHESTER, MA – A Massachusetts man is the first $1 million prize winner in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s new Celtics Banner 18 instant ticket game that went on sale Tuesday, November 19.

Brian Rego of Seekonk, a lifelong Celtics fan, claimed his prize Monday, December 2 at Mass Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. He chose to receive his prize in the form of a one-time payment of $650,000 (before taxes). In true Celtics superfan fashion, when asked to describe the emotions of winning the grand prize, Rego quoted Celtics legend Kevin Garnett from 2008 when the Celtics won their 17^th championship, exclaiming, “Anything is possible!”

Rego said he purchased the Celtics Banner 18 ticket because the “Celtic green” caught his eye. He added that he plans on investing his winnings, purchasing a new car for his wife, and attending this year’s NBA Finals as he’s confident the Celtics are going to repeat as NBA Champions.

Rego, a mechanic, purchased his $1 million winning ticket at Speedway, 1502 Newman Ave. in Seekonk. The store receives a $10,000 bonus for its sale of this ticket.

The Celtics Banner 18 instant ticket includes five more instant grand prizes of $1 million. The game’s Second Chance Drawings give players the chance to enter non-winning tickets for a variety of Celtics experiential and merchandise prizes, including the opportunity to participate in the Banner 18 Challenge in which one lucky winner is guaranteed to win $1 million.

In each of the five Second Chance Drawings, one Banner 18 Challenge participant will be selected. After all drawings are completed, the five winners will be invited to attend a Celtics home game and participate in the Banner 18 Challenge on the parquet floor at halftime. The Banner 18 Challenge will determine which of the five participants wins the $1 million prize. The other four participants will each receive a $10,000 prize.

Additional second chance prizes include Celtics suite and all access experiences, game tickets, custom jerseys, and Celtics prize packs.

The Celtics Banner 18 ticket is the Mass Lottery’s fifth Celtics-branded offering since 2009 and the first since 2012. The ticket is available at Mass Lottery retailers across the state.