The man purchased the ticket at the Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Monday, but did not claim his prize until Thursday.

The Nowra business owner, who wishes to remain annonymous, left before checking his ticket, and didn’t discover until Thursday that he’d won $1,334,447.

“It’s still sinking in; we’ve had a couple of nights of no sleep,” the winner said.

It’s the third million-dollar plus Keno jackpot in for the Shoalhaven area in just over a year.

A 54-year-old Sanctuary Point woman claimed a $1.4 million Keno jackpot at the Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen’s Club on February 11, while a 64-year-old Shoalhaven man claimed a $1.49 million jackpot in January last year at the Nowra Bowling and Recreation Club.

The South Coast’s third Keno millionaire explained he almost didn’t buy the winning ticket that has changed his life.

“We went into the club for the two-up, which I might add I didn’t do very well at,” he joked.

“We walked out to get a taxi and there was this massive queue so I ducked back inside to use the bathroom.

“As I was walking out the door, I bought a Keno ticket. I quite often buy a ticket and wouldn’t think about it until later, and then go and check it.

“We’ve been away and my wife was looking at Facebook and said ‘you didn’t happen to buy a 10-number Keno ticket on Monday night did you?’”.

The winner said his biggest problem – other than lack of sleep – was how to spend the huge cash prize.

“We actually run our own business, and we’re in a dilemma as to whether to sell the business and step back or take it to the next level and keep on it,” he said.

Keno spokesperson Nick Quinn congratulated the winner, saying the team at Keno were thrilled that a regular player and another Nowra-Shoalhaven local had won a major jackpot.