The Samoa government's Totalisator Agency Board, or TAB, has sent its first ever winning lottery ticket overseas for security checks.
The TAB launched the Samoa National Lotto last October with the aim of funding sports development and charitable organisations.
The winner, a prominent politician and businessman who wishes to remain anonymous, handed in the lucky dip ticket worth close to a quarter of a million US dollars on Monday.
TAB secretary, Oloipola Terrence Betham, says the ticket will undergo tough scrutiny in Australia and India to ensure it's legitimate.
"It's a historical event for Samoa. Never has there been a local lottery that has achieved this much money. And it has been won by a local family, Samoans, so we've taken the ticket and going through the security checks It's gonna take 30 days and if everything pans out OK then we'll pay the amount to the bank account of the winner."
Oloipola Terrence Betham says they are delighted there's a winner although keeping who won quiet won't be easy in a small place like Samoa.
