COLUMBIA, SC (February 3, 2011) – Last night, a Columbia man headed to the back porch at the Salty Nut Cafe in Five Points to scratch an instant ticket he purchased from 5 Points Tobacco. Today he dubs the place on the deck his “lucky spot.” Deservedly so, after the ticket won $200,000.
The money wasn’t his alone. The winner and a friend at the Salty Nut Cafe went in together to buy the Greetings of Green ticket. True to his word, he split the winnings with her.
“I believe in Karma,” the man told lottery officials.
“I’m glad,” said the buddy.
The friends did not want to release their names and haven’t told anyone about the win, at least not yet.
“It’s killing me not to tell everybody,” said the man. “But I haven’t even told my wife.”
The man plans to email his wife a copy of the check, then call and tell her she’s got mail. The friend is planning to call her parents and ask how much she owes them for her USC education, then surprise them with the money.
With two kids in college, the man says his check is already spent. The buddy mentioned saving her share of the winnings.
“I’m still freaking out,” she said. “I told him you don’t split things like that, but he kept his word.”
For selling the winning ticket 5 Points Tobacco in Columbia received $2,000. Every retailer that sells a claimed ticket of $10,000 or more earns a 1 percent retailer commission, capped at $50,000.
As of this release, two top prizes of $200,000 remains in the $10 Greetings of Green game. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 375,000.
The money wasn’t his alone. The winner and a friend at the Salty Nut Cafe went in together to buy the Greetings of Green ticket. True to his word, he split the winnings with her.
“I believe in Karma,” the man told lottery officials.
“I’m glad,” said the buddy.
The friends did not want to release their names and haven’t told anyone about the win, at least not yet.
“It’s killing me not to tell everybody,” said the man. “But I haven’t even told my wife.”
The man plans to email his wife a copy of the check, then call and tell her she’s got mail. The friend is planning to call her parents and ask how much she owes them for her USC education, then surprise them with the money.
With two kids in college, the man says his check is already spent. The buddy mentioned saving her share of the winnings.
“I’m still freaking out,” she said. “I told him you don’t split things like that, but he kept his word.”
For selling the winning ticket 5 Points Tobacco in Columbia received $2,000. Every retailer that sells a claimed ticket of $10,000 or more earns a 1 percent retailer commission, capped at $50,000.
As of this release, two top prizes of $200,000 remains in the $10 Greetings of Green game. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 375,000.
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