National

Lottery player had a hunch about his ticket. Then came an ‘exhilarating’ win in SC

A South Carolina man spent $3 on a ticket that he believed was worth much more, officials said.
A South Carolina man spent $3 on a ticket that he believed was worth much more, officials said. Photo by Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash

A South Carolina lottery player had a hunch about his ticket — and it proved to be spot-on.

“It was exhilarating,” the man told the S.C. Education Lottery after he made the right prediction that he would win big.

The winner scored a $75,000 prize after he went to Echo Valley, a store in the Cleveland area. That’s where lottery officials said he bought a scratch-off ticket for the Bingo X20 game.

When the man went to check his $3 ticket, he believed it was worth much more. And it did prove to be lucky, scoring him the top prize in the bingo-themed game, lottery officials wrote in an Aug. 17 news release and told McClatchy News in an email.

The man, who wasn’t identified in the release, beat 1-in-660,000 odds to win.

“I’m going to buy a truck,” said the winner, who kept $51,375 after taxes.

The Cleveland community is roughly 20 miles northwest of Greenville.

It’s not the first time a lottery player’s instincts have paid off. In September, officials said a North Carolina man hit the jackpot after he “felt an urge” to try his luck on a ticket.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Read Next
Read Next

This story was originally published August 17, 2023 at 2:41 PM with the headline "Lottery player had a hunch about his ticket. Then came an ‘exhilarating’ win in SC."

Simone Jasper
The News & Observer
Simone Jasper is a service journalism reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER