Winning lottery ticket rescued from the bin

Virginia Busko-Gewald from Montana is ensured a cracking end to 2018 and a great start to 2019 after winning $50,000 on the Powerball lottery.

Her big win came after the drawing Wednesday night when she saw her ticket had matched 5 numbers. Not realising those five numbers would potentially give her a major win, Virginia almost threw the ticket in the bin.

It was only when she asked her brother Ken Busko who's a regular lottery player, to double check the ticket did she realise what a humungous windfall she had won.

"I don't take it serious," Virginia said. "It's just fun!"

Viriginia who bought the Powerball ticket at the Great Falls Albertsons could not believe her luck, she kept telling herself it was $5,000 because she just couldn't believe it was $50,000.

The lucky winner plans to spend the cash on clearing some bills and visit her nephew in Korea and her niece in New York.