Imagine tossing a $200,000 lottery ticket in the bin because you didn't check it twice. A South Carolina man made a routine stop at the Speedway station on Ladson Road in Ladson to indulge in his usual $5 Emerald Green scratch-off ticket.
Now, this isn't his first rodeo— he's had to scratch several tickets in the past that only gave him the “Try Again” reveal. So when he got this at his stop, he didn't hold out much hope for this one either.
Later that evening, he’d settled at his usual spot at the kitchen table and scratched away the silver coating, revealing a series of numbers and symbols. In his haste, he chalked the numbers to another losing combination. He'd planned to toss it in the bin, hoping for better luck next time.
The player, while telling his story to the South Carolina Lottery officials, says he was just about to throw the ticket in the trash can a few days later when a family member gave it a second look and exclaimed that he was, in fact, going to be a $200,000 lottery winner!
He picked up the ticket and scrutinized the numbers more carefully now. It's when he realized he had made a mistake— It wasn't a losing ticket, after all. It was a winner, and not just any winner— it was worth $200,000.
The Near-Impossible Win
Officials say it's rare—1 in 960,000—to find that huge win in the Emerald Green game. The game doesn't have top prizes anymore, and this South Carolina lottery winner is nothing short of a miracle.
The South Carolina winner went on to say, “I was speechless,” especially in disbelief about how close he came to discarding a 1 in 960,000 chance. Once he came to terms with his win, he signed his ticket and took it to the South Carolina lottery office to claim his winnings.
He didn't believe he’d snagged a six-figure win until he visited the lottery office and received a check for his winnings.
“It's unbelievable”, he says. “ This is life-changing. I'm going to pay off some bills and invest the rest of this money.”
This lucky winner has been allowed to keep his identity anonymous, as allowed by South Carolina’s law. SC isn't the only state in the US that allows anonymity; Delaware, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Dakota, Maryland, Virginia, Texas, New Jersey, and Ohio also allow lottery winners to conceal their identity.
He isn't the only one who lucked out from this surprising ticket. According to the report, the Speedway Station also received a commission of $2,000 for selling the claimed lottery ticket.
His near loss is a testament to the power of second chances and careful attention. Commenters have suggested appreciating the family member who gave that ticket a second chance, some even say they have psychic abilities.
Regardless, If you're like this South Carolina lottery winner, take a moment to check that ticket or text before discarding it. You never know when something good will come your way!