Columbia, SC (April 1, 2005): James E. Jones, of Apex, North Carolina, will never look at another fortune cookie the same way again. On a whim, he decided to play his “lucky numbers” printed on the back of the fortune and he won big with South Carolina Education Lottery’s (SCEL) Powerball® game.
“My wife called me at work and told me to come home,” said Jones. “She told me ‘we won something with the lottery.’”
Jones, along with 14 other SCEL players matched five of six Powerball® numbers to win $100,000. Of the 14, eight chose the PowerPlay® option, which multiplies non-jackpot winnings up to five times. The PowerPlay® number was 5, meaning those players won $500,000. Jones did not choose the PowerPlay® option.
Jones was the one of three SCEL players to come forward on Thursday, March 31st to say they played their numbers based on a fortune cookie. Nationwide, 10 lottery players have come forward with the same story.
“This is numbing,” said Jones. “This is absolutely surreal.”
It’s was so surreal, that Powerball® officials, along with lottery officials nationwide, were left scratching their heads over the phenomenon. The Powerball® numbers for Wednesday’s drawing were: 22-28-32-33-39 and Powerball 42. The last number on the fortune cookie was 40.
South Carolina’s winning tickets were sold at the following locations:
$500,000- Parklane Amoco Food Shop, Columbia
$500,000- Zack’s Mini Mart, Myrtle Beach
$500,000- Reid’s #0677- New Ellenton
$500,000- Calloway’s Sports Bar, West Columbia
$500,000- Ehrhardt Service Center, Ehrhardt
$500,000- The Pantry #822, Columbia
$500,000- Ready Mart, Dillon
$500,000- Sunoco Coop #2632, Charleston
$100,000- Sav-Way#25, Dillon
$100,000- Kangaroo Express, Myrtle Beach
$100,000- Huntley Exterprises, Darlington
$100,000- Country Gas Market, Gaston
$100,000- Spinx#93, Simpsonville
$100,000- The Market Express, Hartsville
Jones says of his good fortune, “I’m buying more Chinese food, and I’ll always play the numbers on the back.”
“My wife called me at work and told me to come home,” said Jones. “She told me ‘we won something with the lottery.’”
Jones, along with 14 other SCEL players matched five of six Powerball® numbers to win $100,000. Of the 14, eight chose the PowerPlay® option, which multiplies non-jackpot winnings up to five times. The PowerPlay® number was 5, meaning those players won $500,000. Jones did not choose the PowerPlay® option.
Jones was the one of three SCEL players to come forward on Thursday, March 31st to say they played their numbers based on a fortune cookie. Nationwide, 10 lottery players have come forward with the same story.
“This is numbing,” said Jones. “This is absolutely surreal.”
It’s was so surreal, that Powerball® officials, along with lottery officials nationwide, were left scratching their heads over the phenomenon. The Powerball® numbers for Wednesday’s drawing were: 22-28-32-33-39 and Powerball 42. The last number on the fortune cookie was 40.
South Carolina’s winning tickets were sold at the following locations:
$500,000- Parklane Amoco Food Shop, Columbia
$500,000- Zack’s Mini Mart, Myrtle Beach
$500,000- Reid’s #0677- New Ellenton
$500,000- Calloway’s Sports Bar, West Columbia
$500,000- Ehrhardt Service Center, Ehrhardt
$500,000- The Pantry #822, Columbia
$500,000- Ready Mart, Dillon
$500,000- Sunoco Coop #2632, Charleston
$100,000- Sav-Way#25, Dillon
$100,000- Kangaroo Express, Myrtle Beach
$100,000- Huntley Exterprises, Darlington
$100,000- Country Gas Market, Gaston
$100,000- Spinx#93, Simpsonville
$100,000- The Market Express, Hartsville
Jones says of his good fortune, “I’m buying more Chinese food, and I’ll always play the numbers on the back.”
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