Lottery winner shows up to claim $10,000 prize — and learns he actually won much more
The morning after a recent Mega Millions drawing, an Oklahoma man checked his ticket and saw he won big.
He just didn’t realize he had actually won much, much more.
Thinking he won $10,000, the Tulsa man stopped by the Oklahoma Lottery Winner Center to claim his winnings, according to an Aug. 9 news release from the Oklahoma Lottery.
That’s when staff told the man, identified only as Larry, that he had won $1 million.
“He was shocked!” lottery officials said in the release.
To win $10,000 with the Mega Millions game, a lottery player must match the gold ball and four of the five white balls. Players who match the five white balls earn at least $1 million.
Non-jackpot prize amounts can be multiplied if a player added on the Megaplier option.
The odds of matching the five white balls is 1 in 12,607,306, according to lottery officials.
Larry bought his winning Mega Millions ticket — for the Aug. 4 drawing — at a QuikTrip convenience store in Tulsa.
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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