Meet Gary Winner, who cashed in more than $1 million from a Pennsylvania Lottery ticket
Erie County resident Gary Winner is getting a big reward for a $20 investment. He is the newest millionaire thanks to the Cash 5 with Quick Cash Jackpot from the Pennsylvania Lottery.
Officials from the Pennsylvania Lottery said about Winner in a news release that, "with a last name like that, it's no surprise that luck seemed to be on his side."
When 64-year-old Winner walked into the Giant Eagle at 2501 W. 12th St. he probably didn't think he would later end up winning a major jackpot.
This game wasn't Winner's first experience with the Pennsylvania Lottery, but it was his first major jackpot.
"I've been playing Cash 5 for a long time and like other games, I usually only play when the jackpot is high," Winner said. "I went into Giant Eagle and saw the Cash 5 jackpot was over $2 million and I thought 'well I'm going to buy $20 worth, Quick Pick."
The total jackpot drawing of $2,325,690 was split between Winner and a player who purchased a winning ticket at a 7-Eleven in Buttler County. Each lottery winner received $1,162,845.
Winner told the Pennsylvania Lottery that when he discovered he won, it took his breath away.
"I walked by the machine and realized someone hit the jackpot," Winner said. "Why don't I just scan my ticket here? I looked and saw winner and I was like 'oh my gosh.' I had to take a deep breath."
Winner was next to another Giant Eagle customer who was just as shocked as he was that he won big.
'At that time, I saw a customer come in and he asked me, 'What's the matter?' I said, 'I think I just hit Cash 5! Look at these numbers.' He said, 'Holy cow, looks like you did!'' said Winner.
The first thing Winner did when he realized his new fortune was call his wife to share the great news.
"She couldn't believe it," Winner said.
Winner is planning to help his wife retire with his lottery winnings. He also plans on using the money to help remodel his home.
The Giant Eagle in Millcreek Township that sold the winning ticket will be receiving a $10,000 bonus.
The grocery chain says that this bonus will be shared with Meals on Wheels Erie.
Coin's farewell: The penny is going out of circulation. What should I do with my change?
'With retailers like Giant Eagle playing a vital role and Lottery prizes and jackpots continuing to capture imaginations, the Pennsylvania Lottery continues to deliver life-changing moments, one ticket at a time,' Drew Svitko, Pennsylvania Lottery executive director, said in a release.
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: What we know about the Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 jackpot winner
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