Lottery player wins big jackpot — and buys a safe to protect ticket over the weekend
Robert Hurst was at a Casey’s convenience store in Iowa when he noticed the Jumbo Bucks Progressive game’s jackpot prize “was getting up there.”
This inspired him to buy four tickets on Friday, Nov. 10, according to a news release from the Iowa Lottery.
But as the 35-year-old construction operations manager was reviewing his tickets, he noticed the jackpot had reset.
“I’m thinking, ‘Man, someone just won it,’” Hurst, of Grinnell, told lottery officials. “I looked at my next ticket, it was the current jackpot and the third line down, I see I matched the numbers for the progressive jackpot.”
Hurst then went back in to the Casey’s in Altoona to confirm if he really did win the $67,043 jackpot prize, according to the release. A worker confirmed the big win.
Unable to claim his winnings until Monday, Hurst’s “first purchase after the big win was a sensible one,” lottery officials said.
“I stopped and bought a fire safe to put the ticket in for the weekend,” Hurst said when finally claiming his prize.
He plans to use his newfound cash to pay off home renovations, then save “and enjoy life,” according to the release.
And while Hurst’s jackpot win had him “feeling pretty lucky,” he’s not exactly on a winning streak.
“I had poker night with the guys Friday night,” he told lottery officials. “I lost that one, but I think I won the day.”
Grinnell is about 45 miles east of Altoona, part of the Des Moines metropolitan area.
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
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