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For an Ohio man, an ordinary day at a convenience store turned into an unforgettable day after one scratch-off ticket led to a life-changing jackpot. Buying it again made the day even more memorable.
The Toledo resident won the top prize on a $50 Ohio Lottery Millionaire Blowout scratch-off ticket, then decided to try his luck again by purchasing a second ticket, according to the Ohio Lottery.
That extra gamble paid off. He also won the second scratch-off, increasing his prize pool to more than $1 million before taxes.
His first ticket won the game’s top prize of $40,000 a year for 25 years, worth $1 million. Instead of paying annually, he chose the $500,000 cash lump sum option, leaving him with a total of $366,250, excluding mandatory state and federal tax withholding of 26.75%.
consecutive winning tickets
The winning ticket was purchased at Mike’s Corner Store on Key Street in Toledo.
According to the Ohio Lottery, the undisclosed winner plans to use some of the money to extend his next vacation, buy a new car, pay for his children and put the rest in the bank.
Store employees said they were excited to learn someone had hit the jackpot, especially after learning that a customer had won twice in a row.
“It turns out someone won a big prize,” employee Stephanie Crampton told WTOL. “At first I didn’t know that I could get the correct answer consecutively.”
Crampton said the store has many loyal lottery fans and believes the winner may be one of their regular customers.
“It’s amazing. It’s a life-changing win and I couldn’t be happier,” she told the station. “This is a win for everyone. It’s a win for the community because it’s happening here now. It’s really happening in Toledo.”
Millionaire Blowout Game Mechanics
The Ohio Lottery’s Millionaire Blowout is a $50 scratch-off game that offers prizes ranging from $75 to $1 million, with an overall odds of winning of 1 in 2.73. As of late July, the Lottery announced it had 56 top prizes and 48 $25,000 prizes remaining.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or X @athompsonUSAT.
