CINCINNATI, Ohio — An Ohio man’s April Fools’ Day took an unexpected turn after a scratched lottery ticket he thought was worth $4,000 revealed itself to be a $1 million top prize.
Scott of Cincinnati purchased a VIP Millions scratch-off ticket at UDF #162 on Princeton Road in Liberty Township. After quickly scanning the barcode, he initially believed he’d won a $4,000 prize—until a second look with his reading glasses revealed a much bigger surprise.
Unsure of the amount, he scratched the full play area and discovered he had hit the game’s top annuitized prize of $1 million, paid out as $40,000 per year for 25 years. Scott opted for the lump-sum cash payout of $500,000 and will receive $360,000 after taxes.
The April 1 win is his largest to date, and he said the realization nearly gave him a heart attack. He has not yet decided how he plans to spend the windfall.
Big win from a $50 ticket
VIP Millions is a $50 Ohio Lottery scratch-off ticket offering a top prize of $40,000 annually for 25 years. As of Thursday, 21 top prizes remain unclaimed.
The Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $33 billion to education since its founding in 1974, with proceeds from ticket sales supporting schools across the state.
Key Points
- Cincinnati man wins $1 million on VIP Millions scratch-off bought April 1
- Misread ticket at first, then confirmed win using reading glasses
- Opted for $500,000 cash payout and will receive $360,000 after taxes