With Father's Day looming on the horizon, we’re flipping through the 2024 album of good fortune, revisiting the year's most heartwarming stories of dads who struck gold – both literally and figuratively.

From Saturday Lotto loots to Instant Scratch-Its surprises, whether they’ve won the lottery this year or still hanging for a win, one thing’s for sure: they’re all worth a million dollars in our eyes.

Could your dad or father figure be a winner this Father’s Day? Why not give them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make their dreams come true and top off your pressie with an Instant Scratch-Its ticket or create your own Saturday Lotto entry with special numbers.

Whether yours is a dad-joke connoisseur, a master of the barbeque, or a champion of the couch, here's to dads in all their glorious, sometimes goofy, always lovable forms!

Melbourne dad unwraps birthday surprise

Birthdays are special, but for this dad it quickly turned into one he wouldn’t forget, after he scratched his way to a $100,000 Instant Scratch-Its win off a gifted ticket from his son.

After the dad claimed his prize, the loving son revealed to us how the wheels of fortune had spun to deliver his family the winning ticket.

“I bought Dad this Instant Scratch-Its ticket as a present for his birthday,” he said.

“Funnily enough, my mum read the ticket after he’d scratched it and thought he’d won $10,000. But then my sister checked the ticket and realised it was actually $100,000!

“Dad called me and said, ‘I’ve won! I’ll split it with you!’. So Dad’s given me half.

“I was blown away. We just couldn’t believe it. What are the chances?!”

Speechless in Smithton

One of the few things that can leave dad lost for words is a million-dollar win, as this dad experienced. He thought he was ‘in trouble’ when team members at his local newsagency asked him to step into a private room, only to reveal his TattsLotto ticket had won $3.75 million.

The surprised retiree was beside himself after discovering his newly minted millionaire status, prompting his son to step in and take over the winning call with us.

“Dad is just mute. He’s lost for words,” the son shared.

“He came into the local newsagency to put on his usual tickets, and he decided to check his old ticket while he was here.

“They scanned his ticket and then they asked him to go into the private room. He immediately thought he was in trouble.

“I then received a random call from him, and he said to me, “I won the Lotto! Come down to the store and I’ll show you!”

Morning coffee interrupted by sweet treat

A Camberwell dad's ordinary morning coffee turned extraordinary, when he received a surprise call from us breaking the news of his $3.3 million TattsLotto win. As the magnitude of his windfall sank in, the fortunate father's thoughts immediately turned to his children.
 
“I have this running joke that each week I only ever win $10 and so I never really look at my ticket. I had no idea I’d won,” he said.

“I was just sitting here having my coffee when you called.

“This is just fantastic. For us, we’re settled, so I think it is going to change our kids’ lives. They’ve grown up and they’ve recently bought houses. I think this is going to make a huge difference to them.”

Brisbane dad left teary-eyed

And sometimes those life-enhancing moments come when you least expect it. A Pullenvale dad was overwhelmed with emotions after discovering his million-dollar Weekday Windfall win as he pulled into his child’s daycare car park.
 
The cheerful dad was completely oblivious to his newly minted millionaire status until we surprised and delighted him with the winning call.  
 
“Are you for real? You have no idea how much this means to me,” he cried.

“We’ve just found ourselves in a tough situation and this will help us so much.

“We’ve been hit with some bills, and we’ll be able to pay them all off.

“I’m literally sitting in the daycare car park right now and I’m trying to compose myself before I do the drop off.

“I’ll have to ring my wife and tell her the good news!”

These heart-warming moments remind us of the joy and positive change that can come from unexpected wins. Who knows, your dad could be our next winning story this Father's Day.