An anonymous couple from the “upstate” region of South Carolina recently had a stroke of luck with their lottery ticket. The couple purchased a $5 Double Sided Dollars Extra Play scratch-off ticket from a convenience store in Spartanburg, a city in northern South Carolina. Initially, the wife did not believe they had won and threw the ticket away. However, her husband noticed something on the ticket that she had missed – a number 12. He retrieved the ticket from the trash and continued scratching, revealing that they had actually won $200,000.
The couple expressed their gratitude and happiness to the South Carolina Education Lottery, stating that they were thankful everything worked out. With their newfound winnings, they plan on buying a new house, a dream they can now fulfill.
The Double Sided Dollars Extra Play game, in which the couple won, was introduced for sale on March 19, 2024. Out of the four top prizes of $200,000, three have already been claimed. However, there are still 32 second-place prizes of $1,000 up for grabs, along with thousands of other prizes ranging from $5 to $500.
The South Carolina Education Lottery has a fascinating history. It was established after a referendum on November 7, 2000, wherein South Carolina residents voted in favor of implementing a state-run lottery. The South Carolina Education Lottery Act was ratified by the South Carolina General Assembly just over six months later, and the bill was signed into law. The first tickets for the lottery’s games were sold in March 2002.
What makes the South Carolina Education Lottery unique is that a quarter of its proceeds are allocated to various educational programs in the state. This commitment to education has resulted in over 2.5 million scholarships being distributed to South Carolina students in the first 20 years of the lottery’s existence. Additionally, the lottery has contributed more than $8 billion since 2002 to prizes, retailer commissions, and operating costs.
While the South Carolina Education Lottery declined to provide further details about the lucky couple’s win, their story serves as a reminder of the unexpected fortune that can come from taking a chance on a lottery ticket. It also highlights the positive impact that state-run lotteries can have on education, providing scholarships and opportunities for students in South Carolina. So, the next time you come across a discarded lottery ticket, it might be worth taking a second look before dismissing it as a loser. After all, you never know when luck may be on your side.
