Kentucky

A $20 wager on an online lottery game bags Kentucky woman an early birthday windfall

A Union, Ky., woman walked away with more than $100,000 just before her birthday after winning a Kentucky Lottery Instant Play game last week.
A Union, Ky., woman walked away with more than $100,000 just before her birthday after winning a Kentucky Lottery Instant Play game last week. Jonathan Borba via Unsplash

An online lottery session from the couch turned into a $140,000 early birthday windfall for one Kentucky woman last week.

According to a Thursday release from Kentucky Lottery, Hanna Turner, of Union, Ky., was taking part in an Instant Play game from her phone on the couch with $100 in her account.

“I really only like to play the Emoti Collect games. They’re my favorite,” she told lottery officials, per the release.

She opted to bet $20 on the game Emoti Collect Vacation Riches and was on the last spin when she won big. The $140,000 top prize reportedly shocked Turner.

“My mouth just like dropped to the floor and I was sitting there in shock,” she said.

A Union, Ky., woman won a $140,000 top prize playing the Kentucky Lottery’s Instant Play Emoti Collect Vacation Riches, seen above.
A Union, Ky., woman won a $140,000 top prize playing the Kentucky Lottery’s Instant Play Emoti Collect Vacation Riches, seen above. Kentucky Lottery

In her enthusiasm, she awoke her boyfriend to tell him about her big when, though he initially thought it was a joke.

“We literally turned on music and danced all day, until I had to go to work,” Turner told lottery officials. “It was so weird. We were on a high.”

The pair visited lottery headquarters in Louisville Monday where officials cut Turner a $100,100 check after taxes.

“My birthday is coming up, so early birthday present for me,” she said.

With the money, Turner told Kentucky Lottery she aims to pay off debt, including her student loans. After that, she and her boyfriend plan to have a little fun and are eyeing a Morgan Wallen country music concert in the fall.

Resources are available for those struggling with gambling through the National Council on Problem Gambling and Kentucky Lottery.

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

Do you have a question about the lottery in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

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