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Lottery player cashing in small win tries out one more ticket. It made him ‘ecstatic’

The winner scanned his ticket first and saw the message “Claim at Lottery,” before scratching the whole game card, officials said.
The winner scanned his ticket first and saw the message “Claim at Lottery,” before scratching the whole game card, officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto

One small decision prompted by a store clerk turned into a “six-figure payday” for a South Carolina lottery player, officials said.

The Summerville man was cashing a “small winning ticket,” when the clerk asked if he’d like to buy one more, according to a Sept. 20 news release from the South Carolina Education Lottery.

Although he wasn’t planning to buy another one, he told the clerk “Yes,” and picked out a $5 Players’ Club scratch-off ticket.

He scanned the ticket using the lottery app.

When he got the message “Claim at Lottery,” he scratched the whole ticket to see what he’d won, revealing the top prize of $200,000, according to lottery officials.

“I was ecstatic,” the man told lottery officials. He said he plans to use his prize to help his family.

He bought his winning ticket at Fast Break Lounge in Summerville, according to the release.

Odds of winning the jackpot prize are 1 in 750,000.

Summerville is about a 25-mile drive northwest from Charleston.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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This story was originally published September 20, 2024 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Lottery player cashing in small win tries out one more ticket. It made him ‘ecstatic’."

Lauren Liebhaber
mcclatchy-newsroom
Lauren Liebhaber covers international science news with a focus on taxonomy and archaeology at McClatchy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a master’s degree from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Previously, she worked as a data journalist at Stacker.
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