News writer
A man with a very appropriate name won $1.16 million out of a $2.3 million Cash 5 with Quick Cash jackpot in Pennsylvania and was given a commemorative check today. Gary Winner of Erie County accepted the check with pride.
The winning moment
Winner, a retiree who works part-time at a golf shop, told the Pennsylvania Lottery that he's been playing Cash 5 for a long time but that he only buys in when the jackpot is high. Ahead of the June 9 drawing, he bought several tickets. Winner, 64, recalled his visit to the store in Millcreek Township:
I went into Giant Eagle, and I saw the Cash 5 jackpot was over $2 million. I thought, 'Well, I'm going to buy $20 worth, Quick Pick. I walked by the machine and realized someone hit the jackpot. I thought, 'Why don't I just scan my tickets here?' I looked and saw the winner. I'm like, 'Oh my gosh!' I had to take a deep breath.
The winner said another customer asked him what was wrong. He responded, “'I think I just hit Cash 5! Look at these numbers.' He said, 'Holy cow, looks like you did!'”
A second winner scored half of the jackpot at a 7-Eleven in Butler County, but they have yet to come forward.
After the win
The winner called his wife, Sherry, to deliver the news. He told the Pennsylvania Lottery:
I said, 'What would you think if I just told you I hit Cash 5?' She couldn't believe it.
He also stated he would spend his million on home remodeling, retiring with his wife, and playing golf.
In Pennsylvania, lottery winners must publicly reveal their first names and last initials, county of residence, game name, win date, and prize amount.
But, perhaps as a fun gift to the public, Winner revealed his full name.
Giant Eagle will earn a $10,000 bonus from the winning ticket. The store told the Lottery that they'd share their winnings with Meals on Wheels Erie, which delivers meals to homebound seniors. Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko stated:
With retailers like Giant Eagle playing a vital role and Lottery prizes and jackpots continuing to capture imaginations, the Pennsylvania Lottery continues to deliver life-changing moments one ticket at a time.
Pennsylvania has the only state lottery that funnels all of its proceeds toward senior citizens.
About Cash 5 with Quick Cash in Pennsylvania
In Cash 5, players must select five numbers from 1 to 43. The winner used a Quick Pick option, wherein a computer randomly selected the numbers for him. To win the jackpot, players must match all five numbers drawn. Matching two, three, or four winning numbers can earn players smaller prizes. Each $2 ticket also includes an instant Quick Cash game, where players can instantly win $2 or $6.
The chances of winning the Cash 5 jackpot prize are 1 in 962,598. But with a name like Winner, perhaps he had some luck on his side.
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