COLUMBIA: A woman from South Carolina recently made headlines after finding a $200,000 winning lottery ticket that had been sitting unnoticed in her handbag for several days. The winning scratch-off was purchased by her husband at a local convenience store and handed to her shortly after.
The couple had forgotten to check the results until days later, when the woman decided to clear out her purse. To her astonishment, the ticket revealed a top prize win. “I just couldn’t believe it. I had been walking around with it for days,” she told state lottery officials.
She described the moment as surreal and expressed deep gratitude. The unexpected win, she said, came at the right time and would help pay off some bills while also allowing for a small family trip. “It’s not just about the money—it’s about the relief and joy it brings,” she added.
Officials from the South Carolina Education Lottery used the incident to remind players to always double-check their tickets and avoid letting potential winnings go unclaimed. They noted that while this case ended happily, many similar wins are often lost due to unverified tickets.
The store where the ticket was bought will also receive a commission from the lottery authority, celebrating the win as a local event. The story has since gained traction online, with many readers amused and inspired by the lucky discovery.
As the couple begins to plan how to spend their windfall, they remain humbled by the experience—and are now firm believers in checking every ticket, no matter how small.
