Publix shopper puts away groceries — then discovers she’s a SC lottery jackpot winner
A Publix shopper came home with groceries — and a winning South Carolina lottery ticket.
“I originally thought I won $500,” the winner said in a Feb. 9 news release.
But the woman skipped over some words on her ticket and was in for a much bigger surprise, according to the S.C. Education Lottery.
“I didn’t want to jump to conclusions,” said the winner, who carefully took another look at the ticket to confirm it was worth $100,000.
The woman celebrated the lucky win after she stopped at a Publix supermarket in Pawleys Island, roughly 20 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach. While at the store, officials said she spent $3 on a ticket for the Lady Jumbo Bucks Crossword game.
“I love the crossword tickets,” the woman said in the news release.
It turns out, the woman’s ticket beat 1-in-600,000 odds to win the big prize. The S.C. Education Lottery, which in its news release didn’t identify the winner, told McClatchy News she kept $69,500 after taxes.
It’s not the first time a lottery player has been passionate about word puzzles. In North Carolina, a school bus driver with a love for them bought a crossword-themed ticket and hit the jackpot, McClatchy News reported in January.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
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.
This story was originally published February 10, 2023 at 5:54 AM with the headline "Publix shopper puts away groceries — then discovers she’s a SC lottery jackpot winner."
