Mom calls daughter to celebrate $3,000 lottery win. Daughter informs her it’s much more

An Iowa woman won big on a crossword-themed scratch-off ticket – bigger than she initially thought, lottery officials said.

After scratching her “$30,000 Crossword” ticket , 71-year-old Diana Sindelar of Marion called her daughter and asked her to come celebrate, according to an Aug. 1 Iowa Lottery news release.

“Hey, I won $3,000,” Sindelar told her daughter on the phone, according to lottery officials.

It wasn’t until her daughter got there and looked at the ticket that Sindelar learned she’d won the game’s top prize.

“She’s the one who found out it’s $30,000,” Sindelar told lottery officials. “It was a complete surprise to all of us!”

The retiree said she plans to use her prize money to pay off her bills and cover the rising costs of her medications, officials said.

“Really nice that I don’t have to sit here and try to stretch out the (Social Security) check,” Sindelar said.

Sindelar bought her ticket at Casey’s in Marion.

Marion is about a 7-mile drive northeast from Cedar Rapids.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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