Canton woman wins $20K on final birthday scratch-off from lottery bouquet
CANTON, OH – A birthday surprise turned into a life-changing moment for a Canton woman who uncovered a $20,000 win on the very last ticket in a bouquet of Ohio Lottery scratch-offs gifted to her by a friend.
Wendy, whose last name was not released, was already enjoying a surprise party thrown by friends and family when her best friend Carrie handed her a unique gift: a bouquet made of 60 Ohio Lottery scratch-off tickets. She scratched a few during the party but saved most for later.
Back home that evening, Wendy began working through the rest — and when she reached the 60th and final ticket, a $2 Cash Explosion Cashword, she was stunned. It revealed a $20,000 prize.
Still in disbelief, Wendy called Carrie to double-check what she was seeing. She didn’t fully accept the win until she brought the ticket to the Ohio Lottery’s regional office, where the prize was confirmed.
Already calling it her “best birthday ever,” Wendy said the win was the icing on the cake. She now plans to take Carrie on a girl’s trip to Punta Cana and pay off her credit cards with the winnings.
After the standard 26.75% in federal and state taxes, Wendy will receive $14,650.
The winning ticket was sold at Circle K #5628 located at 3899 Eastern Rd. in Norton.
Cash Explosion Cashword is a $2 scratch-off with a top prize of $20,000 and a chance to appear on the Cash Explosion TV game show. As of January 20, 10 top prizes remain available. The overall odds of winning are 1 in 4.22.
Since 1974, the Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $34 billion to support education across the state.
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Key Points
- Canton woman won $20,000 on her final scratch-off from a birthday bouquet of 60 tickets
- The winning $2 ticket was purchased at a Circle K in Norton
- Wendy plans to take her best friend on a celebratory trip and pay off debt