Eastern KY man becomes first in state to win Mega Money Jackpot. It’s a record prize
An Eastern Kentucky man has won one of the largest online prizes in Kentucky Lottery history — totaling more than $859,000 — the lottery announced Thursday.
The man, who according to the lottery wishes to remain anonymous, wagered $5 through the Kentucky Lottery app on its Jackpot Spectacular game. All told, he won $859,001.91, the largest online instant play prize awarded in the game’s history, the lottery said in a Jan. 23 news release.
According to the game’s rules, for a $5 wager, the odds of winning the progressive jackpot are at 1 in 10 million, making the man very lucky indeed. To win any prize at that price point, the odds are 1 in 3.97.
For the man, there was disbelief, followed by tears, he told lottery officials.
“I just kept looking at it, I couldn’t believe it. There’s no way I won that!,” he said. “I was crying, laughing. I just kept thanking God, blessing me the way he did.”
Along with the Outlaw’s Loot game, the Jackpot Spectacular is one of two Kentucky Lottery games to feature the Mega Money Jackpot. As a progressive, linked jackpot pool, it’s funded by multiple states. The man’s win marks the first time a Kentucky player has claimed the Mega Money Jackpot, the Kentucky Lottery said.
Collecting his winnings at lottery headquarters in Louisville, the man went home with a check for $618,481.37 after taxes. He was visibly emotional at the event, according to lottery officials.
“This made a grown man cry,” he said.
The man plans to help others with the money, including by paying off his son and daughter-in-law’s house and donating some of the winnings to charity.
Other recent big lottery wins include a Louisville woman who was drawn to lottery game named after a classic Johnny Cash song and a Northern Kentucky man who bought a condominium for his mother with his seven-figure lottery win.
If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.
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