One quick stop at a neighborhood corner store in Dorchester just turned into a life-changing errand for Millana Neely‑Ramos of Boston, who scored a $1 million prize on the Massachusetts State Lottery's "$2,000,000 50X Cashword" instant ticket.
Neely‑Ramos chose the cash option, walking away with a one‑time payment of $650,000 before taxes. She told lottery officials she plans to invest the money and, when the time is right, buy a house. The winning ticket was purchased at Happy Super Mart on Seaver Street, and the store is getting a payday of its own: a $10,000 bonus for selling the lucky scratcher.
Lottery officials confirm the prize
Lottery officials confirmed Neely‑Ramos's $1 million top prize from the "$2,000,000 50X Cashword" instant game, and the details of the win were reported by Boston 25 News. Their coverage notes that Neely‑Ramos opted for the lump‑sum payout of $650,000 before taxes and includes a photo credited to the Massachusetts Lottery Commission.
Taxes and what winners should expect
The big headline number is not what ultimately lands in a winner's bank account. Massachusetts guidance explains that the Lottery must withhold 5% of gambling payouts of $600 or more, and federal taxes also apply. That means Neely‑Ramos's $650,000 payment will be reduced by state withholding and subject to federal reporting, with her true take‑home amount depending on her individual tax situation. The state's rules for withholding and reporting gambling income are laid out by Mass.gov.
Retailer bonus and local context
Happy Super Mart at 122 Seaver St. in Dorchester is now on the short list of local spots where someone hit it big. Along with Neely‑Ramos's win, the retailer gets a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket, a familiar perk in Massachusetts lottery lore.
Those retailer bonuses and the neighborhood buzz that follows a big scratch‑off win are nothing new in the region. Earlier this year, Hoodline chronicled another $1 million winner in 2024, underscoring just how often life‑changing luck can strike at an ordinary corner store.
