An Athens resident is suddenly a millionaire on paper after claiming a $1 million top prize from a Georgia Lottery scratch-off, officials say. The lucky ticket came from the 50X The Money game and was bought at a Citgo Food Mart on Monroe Highway in Winder. The player stepped forward on April 2 and opted for a lump-sum cash payout of about $809,000 before taxes.
Details from lottery officials
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Georgia Lottery officials have confirmed both the $1 million win and the winner’s choice of the cash option. FOX 5 also highlighted a few other recent hits across the state, including a $97,268 Quick Win payout at a QuikTrip on Buford Highway in Atlanta and a $10,000 Diggi Game win claimed by a Rome resident. The station noted that the Athens winner’s big score came from the 50X The Money scratch-off game.
How winners claim prizes and where the money goes
The Georgia Lottery says that prizes of $500,000 or more are generally paid out via electronic deposit within five to 10 business days after a ticket is validated. Winners must present photo identification along with proof of Social Security when they claim a prize; the lottery’s claim guidance is available here. Federal and state income-tax withholdings are taken out of larger prizes, and certain state debts, such as child-support obligations, can also be deducted from a payout.
The Georgia Lottery states that proceeds from its games help fund education programs across the state, including the HOPE Scholarship and Georgia’s Pre-K initiative. Details on how lottery dollars are distributed can be found on its Benefitting Georgia page.
What this could mean for the store
Retailers that sell big winning tickets often see a brief surge in phone calls and walk-in traffic from curious and hopeful players. That trend has shown up in other Georgia scratch-off stories, including an Acworth scratch-off millionaire case previously covered by Hoodline. The Citgo on Monroe Highway could see a similar bump in attention in the coming days.
Lottery officials routinely remind players to sign the back of their tickets, keep them in a safe place, and follow the claim instructions promptly so they do not miss the deadline to collect any prize.
