Kentucky

She thought it was a scam, but a KY woman did in fact win $148K from online lottery game

Crystal Young of Louisville poses recently with a big check after winning more than $148,000 playing a Kentucky Lottery Instant Play game.
Crystal Young of Louisville poses recently with a big check after winning more than $148,000 playing a Kentucky Lottery Instant Play game. Kentucky Lottery

She almost went to bed instead, but a Kentucky woman playing online lottery games recently secured a more than $148,000 prize recently with a nightcap wager.

According to a Friday release from Kentucky Lottery, Crystal Young, of Louisville, was enjoying Instant Play games on her phone in bed last week and about to turn in for the night when she placed a $10 wager on Bank Buster Jackpot.

“I was just sitting there. I typically don’t play that game,” she told lottery officials.

The $10 wager was part of free “Bonus Bucks” from the lottery, according to the release.

It worked out, and she was able to wake her husband to the good news of the $148,000 win.

“It was a total surprise,” Young said, per the release, admitting she was initially skeptical of the win.

A Louisville woman recently walked away with more than $106,000 after taxes following her online win playing Kentucky Lottery’s Bank Buster Jackpot, seen here.
A Louisville woman recently walked away with more than $106,000 after taxes following her online win playing Kentucky Lottery’s Bank Buster Jackpot, seen here. Kentucky Lottery

“When it hits, it shows my wins at the bottom of the screen. I was like, ‘yeah, right,’” she noted.

She decided to contact customer service to confirm her win, which totaled $148,499.06.

“I still thought maybe this is a scam,” she told the lottery. “I guess I won’t believe it until I get the check and I’ve deposited it in my account.”

After work the next day, Young and her husband visited Kentucky Lottery headquarters in Louisville, where her win was confirmed with a big check moment.

Young took home $106,176.83 after taxes.

“I’m still in disbelief,” she told officials.

Help is available in Kentucky for those struggling with gambling.

If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.

JS
Jackie Starkey
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jackie Starkey is a former journalist for the Herald-Leader
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