West Chester grandmother Shirley Coaston, better known around town as "Big Shirley," turned a routine Saturday-night TV habit into a local legend-making moment when her name was pulled three times in the final round of the Ohio Lottery's Cash Explosion game show, locking in the $50,000 grand prize.
The unlikely streak capped off an already hot run that started with an opening-round win and a series of bonus reveals that kept her total climbing. By the end of the live taping, Coaston had gone from casual viewer to the latest Cincinnati-area player to walk away with headline-worthy lottery luck.
According to Shore News Network, Coaston picked the numbers 5, 16, and 24, which are tied to family birthdays, then flipped over both a 2X Double and the show's Ticket Jackpot during her episode. Lottery officials said she took home $9,400 in the opening round, then nailed the $50,000 grand prize when her name was drawn first, second, and third in succession during the final. She also picked up a $1,000 award from Set for Life scratch-off tickets, plus an extra $300 through the Ticket Jackpot bonus. After mandatory state and federal withholdings of 26.75%, her payout comes to $36,625.
How Cash Explosion contestants are chosen
Contestants on Cash Explosion are drawn directly from Cash Explosion scratch-off tickets. If the word "ENTRY" appears three times on a ticket or in the Cashword bonus box, players must register that ticket through the Ohio Lottery's MyLotto Rewards system to make it into the weekly drawing, according to the Ohio Lottery.
The lottery uses a random-number generator to select contestants, and the Ohio Auditor of State signs off on the drawing. The show airs on Saturday evenings on local television affiliates and also streams through the Cash Explosion page on the Ohio Lottery site. Contestant names and hometowns are announced on the broadcast and then listed on the lottery's website.
What 'Big Shirley' plans to do
Coaston told lottery officials she plans to use the windfall to take her four grandchildren to Disney and is hoping to enjoy an Alaskan cruise as well, according to Shore News Network. Her husband reportedly first found out she had been picked for the show when he saw her name announced on television, a twist that only fueled the neighborhood buzz around her appearance.
The win has sparked fresh chatter in her West Chester community and renewed interest in Cash Explosion scratch-offs among local players. For many around the Cincinnati area, Coaston's episode serves as another reminder that the long-running Ohio game show still has a knack for turning everyday viewers into sudden winners. Big Shirley now steps out of the studio spotlight with a tidy payout and a couple of family trips to plan.
