Albany, Ohio – An Albany couple, Phil and Sandy, is celebrating a $50,000 win after playing the Ohio Lottery’s 50th Anniversary scratch-off game. Their exciting journey to this windfall began with a routine visit to the Little General Store on Washington Road.
A Fortunate Decision
Phil decided to purchase a few 50th Anniversary scratch-off tickets during his stop at the store. After winning $100 on one ticket, he called his wife, Sandy, to share the news. Encouraged by her enthusiasm, Phil decided to play the remaining tickets available at the store.
“I only hit, like, a $100,” Phil said. “Once I hit the $100, my wife said, ‘Yeah, go ahead and play the last two,’ so I said, ‘Okay.’”
Returning to the store to scratch off his remaining tickets, Phil noticed that a fresh batch of tickets had been put out. He decided to try his luck with the new ones, which turned out to be a life-changing decision.
A Surprising Discovery
As Phil scratched one of the tickets, he saw the symbol “100X.” Without finishing the ticket, he rushed home to share the moment with Sandy. However, Sandy, who was busy preparing lunch, insisted that Phil sit down and eat first.
Sandy believed the prize would be about $1,000, so she wanted to savor the anticipation. After lunch, Phil resumed scratching the ticket.
“I scratched off the 5 and said, ‘Wow, it’s $5,000,’” Phil said. It wasn’t until they continued scratching that they realized the prize was $50,000.
Even then, the couple used the Ohio Lottery mobile app to confirm their win.
Planning Ahead
After taxes, the couple will take home approximately $36,000. Their first plan for the winnings is to pay off their home equity line of credit.
The 50th Anniversary scratch-off is a $50 game that offers a top prize of $600,000 annually for 25 years. As of December 26, two top prizes remain unclaimed.
For more information about the Ohio Lottery’s 50th Anniversary game and other offerings, visit the Ohio Lottery’s website.
