A Carrollton, Ohio man won a $500,000 top prize on a scratch-off lottery ticket he bought while taking his wife home from her cancer treatment appointments. He stopped at a convenience store and picked up a couple of $5 tickets, including the last Best of 7’s scratch-off in the bin. When he got home and scratched the ticket, he was amazed to discover it was a top prize winner.
He rushed to share the good news with his wife, who initially didn’t believe him. “She looked at me funny and said, ‘Did you fall?’ I said, ‘No I’m in shock! I think I won half a million dollars!'” he recounted. His wife was finally convinced after he scanned the ticket on the Ohio Lottery app.
The man said his ticket selection strategy of favoring tickets at the end of the roll had paid off.
Scratch-off prize brings big relief
“I like the end of the roll, I’ll buy in the middle too, but always liked the end of the roll best,” he explained.
The winning ticket was sold at Bellstore #146 in Malvern. After taxes, the man will take home about $360,000. He told lottery officials the prize is a blessing, as their family has been facing rising medical bills from his wife’s cancer treatment.
He plans to use some of the money to pay for these expenses. “I still can’t believe it,” the man said. “I still think it’s a dream!” When his wife recovers, he hopes to plan something they can enjoy together.