Kentucky man switches lottery games at the last minute – only to win a big payout
Playing an early morning round of lottery games online recently left a Kentucky man in disbelief after winning more than $118,000.
Joseph Raley, of London, Ky., meant to play a different online game around 5 a.m. Aug. 16 when he switched to The Wild Life Clusters Jackpot, an instant play offering, at the last moment.
“I picked a game and was getting ready to click buy when I switched and wagered $5 on Wild Life Clusters Jackpot instead,” Raley told lottery officials, according to a Aug. 23 release from the organization.
“Those four little things popped up and gave me three free spins. I figured I’d get my $5 back,” he continued. “My phone was laying there, and I turned around and started doing something when out of the corner of my eye I saw a big cluster of stuff.”
The Wild Life Clusters Jackpot tasks players with accumulating at least three matching, adjacent symbols on the grid in an attempt to win the progressive jackpot. There are in-game bonuses and free turns, according to the game’s officials rules.
The odds of a $100,000 win on a $5 play are 1 in 1 million, the rules state, and winnings and plays start at 50 cents.
“By the time I turned around, it was spinning the second and third time. I came back around and saw I hit it,” Raley said of his win, noting at first, he thought it was an advertisement.
It wasn’t – instead it was a message informing him of a $118,449.42 win, the lottery said.
“I can’t believe I just did this... and on the first spin!,” he told officials.
The next day, already in Louisville for work, Raley visited Kentucky Lottery headquarters, where he collected a check for $84,691.34 after taxes.
He told lottery staffers he “will let the winnings sit for a bit and not react too quickly.”
If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.
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