$2 million scratch-off sold in Columbus to Ironton man
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A southern Ohio man who bought a scratch-off ticket in the Arena District made a huge score when he revealed the winning numbers.
The man, identified only as “J. from Ironton,” purchased a $30 Royal Riches scratch-off worth millions from a location called Lucky Choice across from Lower.com Field at 577 W. Nationwide Boulevard on Oct. 22.
According to a news release from the Ohio Lottery, J. is a regular player and has previously won smaller prizes with scratch-offs and Pick 3 tickets. He told the lottery that instead of always going for auto-pick numbers, he often uses a “top-secret family formula … based on notes tracking previous wins.”
When the matching numbers were uncovered on the Royal Riches ticket, J.'s first question was, “Oh my God, is this real?” After he checked the ticket with a magnifying glass, he sent a family member a picture to make sure his win was not a dream.
The Lottery notes that the Royal Riches top prize can be taken in cash or as an annuity worth $80,000 a year for 25 years, amounting to $2 million. J. chose the cash option and will take home $728,750.00 after state and federal taxes.
J. expressed that he plans to be generous with his newfound wealth, sharing it with relatives and his church. However, one personal indulgence will be a new vehicle.
Four Royal Riches top prizes and 10 second-tier prizes remain as of Nov. 3. The overall odds of winning any of the prizes are 1 in 3.95.
Royal Riches Prizes Remaining
$80K/YR for 25 years/ 4 prizes remaining
$50,000/ 10 prizes remaining
$10,000/ 100 prizes remaining
$5,000/ 213 prizes remaining
$1,000/ 4,623 prizes remaining
$300/ 28,721 prizes remaining
$100/ 114,091 prizes remaining
$60/ 556,616 prizes remaining
The lottery website also identified at least two other big, prize-winning tickets sold at Lucky Choice in Columbus. In May, a $543,000 jackpot was hit with five winning numbers on a Rolling Cash 5 ticket and in October, a Beach City woman matched five winning digits on another Rolling Cash 5 ticket and won $100,000.
The Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $34 billion to education since 1974.