After 10 years, playing the same lottery numbers pays off big for one Kentucky man

For 10 years, a Daviess County man faithfully played the same lottery numbers, buying tickets for Kentucky’s Lucky for Life and various scratch off games.

Then, ahead of the Kentucky Cash Ball 225’s drawing July 13, the man, who lottery officials said wishes to remain anonymous, walked into a Beaver Dam convenience store and bought a ticket. That chance decision led to a life-changing $225,000 payout.

The winning numbers for that drawing were 8, 16, 29, 32 and 16.

The Whitesville man described to Kentucky Lottery officials how he learned he’d won the game’s top prize, which is attached to odds of 1 to 1,309,000 per play.

“I thought, ‘Hey, I played 16. I played that number too!,’” he said.

Once he started recalling those lucky numbers, he knew he was a winner.

“I figured I better check my ticket,” the man continued, according to a Wednesday Kentucky Lottery news release. To confirm his win, he went back to the store he bought his ticket from and scanned it. It came up a winner.

The man didn’t breathe a word of his win anyone except one person, he told the lottery.

“I told one confidant, just in case,” he said.

July 23, the man made the trip to Kentucky Lottery headquarters in Louisville, a requirement for winners of prizes that size, and claimed his winnings. After taxes, he received a check for $162,000.

While the man doesn’t yet have big plans for his winnings, he does plan to ride off into the sunset and enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation.

“I’m old and ready to retire. I’ll try to have some fun,” he said.

The Daviess County man isn’t the only Kentuckian hitting big on the lottery this summer. In June, a Kentucky Lottery player became the fourth in the U.S. to win the grand prize on Powerball’s Double Play.

If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.

Do you have a question about the lottery in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Send us an email at ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form.