BIG WIN
I was ‘about to call it a night’ before I won $300k from a scratch-off – but I lost $87,000 when I picked up my prize
Lottery officials are urging players in multiple states to check their tickets as winners have yet to come forward
AFTER multiple strikeouts, a Nebraska man took another shot at a lottery game and it paid off.
Jeremiah Ehlers took home the $300,000 jackpot after playing Diamond Dollars, a $30 Nebraska Lottery Scratch game.
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Ehlers was playing scratch-offs the night before with a coworker but wasn’t having any luck.
They decided to call it a night but Ehlers remained hopeful.
“I joked that the next one was going to be the big winner,” he told Nebraska Lottery officials.
“I bought it the next morning and I was right.”
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Ehlers scanned the ticket multiple times as he couldn’t believe his luck.
Excitement led him to head straight to lottery officials to collect his jackpot.
“I thought, ‘I have to go right now,’” he said. “I drove straight all the way here.”
Prizes above $5,000 have state and federal taxes automatically withheld, at five and 24 percent, respectively.
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This means that Ehlers lost $87,000 when he collected his winnings.
DIAMOND DOLLARS
The Diamond Dollars scratch game is $30 to play.
Lottery warning to check numbers for unclaimed Powerball jackpot worth $842 million and it was bought at a supermarket
Players may have a chance to win prizes from a free $30 ticket to $300,000.
The game is easy, just match any of your numbers to any of the winning numbers, then score the prize shown for that number.
There are also three extra ways to win more cash according to the Nebraska Lottery:
- BONUS $100: Reveal 2 identical symbols, win $100 automatically
- BONUS $250: Reveal 2 identical symbols, win $250 automatically
- BONUS $500: Reveal 2 identical symbols, win $500 automatically
The chances of winning the jackpot are one in 128,000, while the odds of winning any prize are one in 3.24.
Just note that the game is no longer available at this time.
GET YOUR MONEY
Lottery officials urge winners to immediately sign their tickets.
Prizes for Lotto games may be claimed up to 180 days after the draw date.
However, Lotto tickets cannot be cashed until 5 am CT the day after the drawing.
Scratch games may be claimed up to 180 days after the game's closing date.
Prizes up to $500 can be claimed at any Nebraska Lottery retailer.
Tickets with total prize amounts of $501 to $19,999 must be claimed by mail or at a Regional Lottery Claim Center.
Free ticket prizes may be paid by free quick pick ticket, coupon, or warrant for the cash amount per Lottery regulations.
Read More on The US Sun
For more related content, check out The U.S. Sun's coverage of a lottery winner recently arrested over a $1 million win.
Plus, check your tickets as $25,000-a-year-for-life prize still unclaimed.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.