Somerset man puzzled by $150K King Crossword scratch-off ticket win

SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Somerset man won big on a crossword scratch-off ticket.

The Kentucky Lottery said Charles Amburgey bought a $10 King Crossword ticket from a vending machine at the Speedway on South Highway 27 in Somerset.

Amburgey told officials he originally thought he won a smaller prize.

“At first, I thought I’d won $100. Then I thought I’d won $50,000. It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized I had actually won $150,000,” Amburgey told lottery officials. “It was like a dream.”

“We didn’t believe it until we scanned it. It was definitely amazing,” he said.

Amburgey made the drive with his family to lottery headquarters in Louisville, where he received a check for $108,000 after taxes.

He told officials he plans to use the prize money to buy land and upgrade his family’s housing situation. “We’re buying land,” he said. “I own my mobile home, so I’m going to buy the land and probably sell the one I’m in for something bigger.”

Amburgey also said he plans to continue his charitable contributions, believing in the power of paying it forward.

Amburgey said his faith may have played a role.

“The night before, I donated to a charity, and the next morning, I received a Bible verse that said, ‘Those who bless will be blessed.’ An hour later, I found out I had won,” he shared.

“We’ve been playing for a few months and putting the money we win towards buying more tickets. We’ve really not spent much money on it (lottery),” Amburgey said.

“This win is definitely a blessing.”

Speedway will receive $1,500 for selling the winning ticket.

The King Crossword game went on sale to players in February. This win makes it the second $150,000 prize to be claimed on this game. Nine $1,500 prizes are remaining in the game.