Columbus lottery player thought shocking $1M win could not be real
COLUMBUS, OH — A Columbus woman lounging in bed with a scratch-off ticket suddenly erupted in screams after realizing she had just won a $1 million Ohio Lottery prize.
The woman said she was playing a Wild Cash Tripler scratch-off when she uncovered a prize of $40K a year for 25 years.
At first, she thought there had to be a mistake.
“This can’t be real,” the winner recalled thinking after staring at the ticket for several moments.
She then tossed her phone to her husband and started screaming that she believed she had won $1 million.
The excitement quickly spread through the house as she ran downstairs to tell her father.
Her dad later said he initially feared something terrible had happened because of all the screaming before learning the family had just struck lottery gold.
The winner chose the lump-sum cash option of $500,000 instead of annual payments. After mandatory state and federal tax withholdings totaling 26.75%, she will receive $366,250.
The woman told Ohio Lottery officials she plans to use part of the money to pay off her home and take her family on a cruise next year.
Wild Cash Tripler is a $30 scratch-off game offering top prizes up to $3 million. Ohio Lottery officials said three top prizes of $120K a year for 25 years remain available statewide.
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Key Points
• Columbus woman wins $1 million on Wild Cash Tripler scratch-off
• Winner screamed after discovering ticket while relaxing in bed
• Family plans include paying off home and taking cruise vacation