BALE KUZMANOVSKI'S pulse began to race when he scratched the lottery ticket his wife had bought him as a birthday present. He saw a picture of a swimmer next to the word ''bathe'' - a winning match.

The size of the cash prize was even more extraordinary. Believing he had won $100,000 Mr Kuzmanovski felt an ''explosion of elation''.

A winner after all ... Bale Kuzmanovski's ticket.

But NSW Lotteries begged to differ. The swimmer did not match the word ''bathe'', it argued. The correct image was a bathtub. The symbol Mr Kuzmanovski had uncovered was only a winner if it was accompanied by the word ''swim''.

The matter went to the Federal Court and, this week, Justice Steven Rares agreed with Mr Kuzmanovski. He ordered NSW Lotteries to pay the $100,000.