Western Kentucky woman kept $50k scratch-off under pillow

OAK GROVE, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Kentucky woman slept on her winning ticket after revealing $50,000 top prize.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, said her son encouraged her to play a $30 $50,000 Ca$h scratch-off when they stopped at Pal’s in Oak Grove.  

“I had never seen the ticket, but told her to play it because it stuck out at me,” her son told lottery officials. “She scratched it off in the store, and the first number, 52, appeared, and she saw the prize, and we both got a little nervous. I told her to scratch off the barcode and scan it.”  

When they scanned the ticket, they realized they had won $50,000. 

“I could have fainted. I will tell you, though, I have problems with my hip and my back, but I think I jumped and did a little dance,” she joked.  

The night before coming to Kentucky Lottery Headquarters to claim their prize – taking home $36,000 after taxes – the family was nervous about where to secure the ticket.  

“My son told me to lock it up in the glove box, but it (the ticket) was just fine with me under my pillow that night,” she said.   

With several grandchildren about to enter college, she said she plans to use some of the money to pay for their education.  

“And I’m going to donate some of it to help pay off our church’s van,” she said.  

The Kentucky Lottery’s $30 $50,000 Ca$h was released to players in July 2023. There are five $50,000 top prizes and 25 $5,000 second-tier prizes remaining.  

Pal’s of Oak Grove will receive $500 for selling the winning ticket.