Millionaire wins $1m a year scratch-card prize

A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE London investment banker has landed the top prize of $1million a year for life in a new scratch-card game.

Kenan Altunis, 33, head of foreign exchange sales at the UniCredit bank, scooped the first jackpot in a New York lottery.

The remarkable win comes at a time when thousands of City workers are losing their jobs or having to accept deep cuts in bonuses because of the credit crunch.

Turkish-born Mr Altunis insisted the win would not "materially change my life". "I have been a very blessed and fortunate person."

The Chelsea supporter gave his mother $100 to spend on lottery tickets on a trip to New York last month. She bought three of the $30 tickets then threw in $20 of her own to pay for a fourth, which won.

The top prize was a $1million-a-year income (£604,000 on current exchange rates) with a guaranteed payout of $20million if he dies in less than 20 years. After tax he will receive $931,500 (£565,000) a year.

The banker has lived in the capital since 1997, took British citizenship in 2003 and "absolutely" considers himself a Londoner. Mr Altunis lives with his wife and young daughter in a flat in Clerkenwell.