LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Two lucky Arkansans recently won big prizes on instant lottery games.
Barbara Warren of Ozone won a $100,000 prize by playing the $5 X50 Bonus instant game on February 8.
She purchased the winning ticket at Dodge Store #634 on 407 E. Main St. in Clarksville while driving home from Fort Smith with her son.
The pair stopped at the store, where the woman asked her son to purchase ten $5 tickets.
“I had $30, and I gave him an extra $20 to buy the tickets,” Barbara said.
She noted that she always buys ten lottery tickets at a time and chooses the games that jump out at her. She has previously won $20,000 with this strategy.
Barbara began scratching off her tickets in the car. She recalled that the first two were “a couple of duds,” but the next one turned out to be the $100,000 winning ticket.
“It was hard not to scream,” the winner said.
Instead, she placed the winning ticket in her sun visor and plans to keep the good news a secret until she can surprise her son.
She plans to use her winnings to complete some home improvement projects for her son, his girlfriend, and their child, who live with her.
Another winner, Larry Stevens of Searcy, won a $50,000 lottery prize on a $20 $50,000 Blast instant game ticket.
He purchased the winning ticket at Exxon Food Mart #3 on 1720 W. Beebe-Capps Expressway in Searcy.
Larry, a daily lottery player, had stopped by to purchase two tickets for his favorite instant game: Black and Gold. However, when he was informed that the game was no longer available, he chose two $50,000 Blast tickets instead.
He scanned his ticket while in the store and was notified that he should visit the claim center. He quickly realized he had won the instant game’s $50,000 top prize.
“It was unreal,” Larry said.
He first shared the news with his wife, who pointed out how lucky it was that his usual ticket was unavailable.
Larry has won $1,000 and $5,000 prizes on scratch-off tickets in the past. But, this win still left him stunned.
“Can you believe that?” the winner asked lottery officials, whistling “$50,000.”
With his prize, the Arkansan intends to pay off his car. He noted that it is the last major payment he wants to complete prior to retirement, which he hopes to begin next month.
