National

Dad has tradition of giving son lottery tickets. Then son called with ‘great news’

A Rhode Island man took home a massive prize after being gifted a lottery ticket from his father, officials say.
A Rhode Island man took home a massive prize after being gifted a lottery ticket from his father, officials say. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Rhode Island man took home a massive prize after being gifted a lottery ticket from his father, officials say.

Steven Richard, of Barrington, was eating breakfast with his father Friday, March 29, “when his father gave him a scratch ticket, as he often does,” Massachusetts State Lottery said in a news release.

Richard didn’t scratch the $10 ticket his dad picked up from a Westport deli just yet.

Instead, he told lottery officials he waited until later in the day to check the $4,000,000 Bonus Bucks, and he was in disbelief.

He won the grand prize of $4 million, according to lottery officials.

A Rhode Island man took home a massive prize after being gifted a lottery ticket from his father, officials say.
A Rhode Island man took home a massive prize after being gifted a lottery ticket from his father, officials say. Photo from Massachusetts State Lottery

“After telling his wife, he then called his father to share the great news,” lottery officials said.

Richard chose the cash option and took home $2.6 million before taxes, lottery officials said.

He told lottery officials he plans to use some of his earnings to “travel with his wife.”

Barrington is about a 10-mile drive southeast from Providence, and Westport is about a 60-mile drive south from Boston.

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.

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This story was originally published April 3, 2024 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Dad has tradition of giving son lottery tickets. Then son called with ‘great news’."

Daniella Segura
McClatchy DC
Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she’s worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.
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