Rwandan businessman Jean Claude Gatoya Munyakazi turned a millionaire overnight after winning sports betting jackpot of Rwf156.79 million from Societe de Lotteries Pari Sportifs (LPS) on June 24.

Munyakazi, 34, a resident of Rubavu district bet a paltry Rwf600 for a collective exact score of five matches at the Rubavu town LPS outlet in the ongoing Fifa World Cup to win the largest amount of money in Rwanda's betting history.

Speaking to Rwanda Today, Munyakazi said that he has always had passion of betting and his confidence and patience helped him leap big after two years wagering.

“I have spent two years betting. On that day, I just staked Rwf600 on exact scores for five matches. I relaxed, went back to my business as usual and waited for the matches to end,” said Munyakazi.

“For once after finding my predictions right, what came to my mind was if LPS would pay me this money. However, my worries have been proven wrong. I am very happy because I never thought in my lifetime I would ever get this money.”

“I want to use this money to expand my business but before doing so, a certain percentage will go towards changing lives of vulnerable groups from my community in Rubavu,” added Munyakazi who is a dairy trader.

He was handed a Rwf156,790,000 cheque by Societe de Lotteries Pari Sportifs (LPS) Rwanda officials at its Remera company outlet on Tuesday after the firm verified the win.

The LPS Regional Director Jean Pierre Murama said that Munyakazi’s ticket was deemed perfectly valid before terming this development as a historical moment in Rwanda.

“We have generated millions in governmental taxes and have distributed millions to players since we began, but Munyakazi has amazed us. We are very excited by this opportunity to award him this cheque that will fundamentally change his life,” said Murama.

LPS Rwanda through its sports for Africa product is a licensed and certified sports betting organisation that began operations in Rwanda in January 2012.

Sports4africa offers online and land based fixed odds betting through an official license in Rwanda and other African countries such as Gabon, Zambia, Burundi, Cameroon and Ivory Coast.

The company pays out millions of francs to players across Rwanda daily who place bets on football, basketball, tennis and international events like World Cup and the European leagues.