Cincinnati man nearly misses $1 million win on April Fools’ Day ticket

Cincinnati player’s April 1 scratch-off win turns out to be $1 million jackpot
Cincinnati man nearly misses $1 million win on April Fools’ Day ticket
Man holding dollar bills roll, corruption payment, dirty money, financial fraud

CINCINNATI, OH — A Cincinnati man thought he had won a modest prize on an Ohio Lottery scratch-off ticket — until he put on his reading glasses and discovered he had actually won $1 million.


Key Points

  • Scott from Cincinnati won $1 million on a VIP Millions scratch-off ticket
  • The winning ticket was purchased April 1 at UDF #162 in Liberty Township
  • He initially believed he had won $4,000 before realizing it was the game’s top prize

Misread ticket turns into life-changing win

Scott, who plays Ohio Lottery games regularly, purchased the $50 VIP Millions ticket at the United Dairy Farmers store located at 5000 Princeton Road in Liberty Township. After scratching only the barcode and scanning the ticket, he initially thought he had won $4,000 — an amount that doesn’t exist in the game.

It wasn’t until he scanned the ticket again, this time with his reading glasses on, that he saw he had won $40,000 — and upon scratching the entire play area, he realized he had hit the top prize of $1 million, paid as $40,000 annually for 25 years.

Winner opts for lump sum payout

Scott chose the cash option, securing a $500,000 payout before taxes. After mandatory state and federal deductions, he will take home approximately $360,000. He has not yet decided how he will spend the winnings but confirmed it’s his largest prize to date.

The VIP Millions game still has 21 top prizes remaining as of April 17.