An Ohio resident has become the center of a remarkable lottery success story after recovering a winning scratch-off ticket from a dumpster and claiming a $100,000 prize.
According to the Ohio Lottery, the man from Willard, Ohio, accidentally threw away his Bingo Times 25 scratch-off ticket without realizing it was a winner. After discovering his mistake, he searched through a dumpster in an effort to find the discarded ticket.
His persistence paid off. The ticket was eventually recovered and verified as a top-prize winner worth $100,000.
The lucky ticket had been purchased at a Circle K convenience store located on Walton Street in Willard. After confirming the ticket's value, the winner moved forward with the official prize-claim process.
As required under Ohio lottery regulations, taxes were deducted from the prize before payment was issued. A total of 26.75% was withheld for federal and state tax obligations, reducing the final amount received by the winner to $73,250.
The unusual story quickly attracted attention across the United States, with many people highlighting how close the winner came to losing the prize forever.
Ohio Lottery officials remind players that large prizes must be claimed through designated lottery offices or approved claim centers rather than standard retail locations. Winners also have a limited period to submit claims before prizes expire.
The incident serves as a reminder for lottery players to carefully check and keep their tickets, as even a small oversight could mean missing out on a life-changing reward.
For one Ohio man, however, a trip into a dumpster turned into an unforgettable payday worth tens of thousands of dollars.
