- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Wadsworth Today
By the People, for the People
Ohio Woman Wins $40,000 a Year for 25 Years from Clerk-Picked Lottery Ticket
The lucky winner decided to take a one-time $500,000 payout instead of the annual payments.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
An Ohio woman visited a gas station in Wadsworth and the store clerk encouraged her to buy a $30 Extreme Millions scratch-off lottery ticket, telling her "Pick this one. It's probably a winner." The woman initially balked at the ticket's price but relented and purchased it. When she scratched the ticket off in the car with her husband, she revealed the top prize of $40,000 a year for 25 years. The player decided to take her winnings as a one-time payment of $500,000, which she plans to use to buy new vehicles and bolster her savings.
Why it matters
This story highlights the power of chance and the unpredictability of lottery wins, as well as the importance of trusting one's instincts, even when they go against conventional wisdom. It also demonstrates how a small act of encouragement from a store clerk can lead to life-changing consequences for a customer.
The details
The Lorain County woman visited the Saini Stores Sunoco on Akron Road North in Wadsworth, Ohio, where the store clerk encouraged her to purchase the $30 Extreme Millions scratch-off ticket. Despite initially being hesitant about the ticket's price, the woman decided to buy it. When she scratched the ticket off in the car with her husband, she revealed the top prize of $40,000 a year for 25 years.
- The woman visited the Saini Stores Sunoco on Akron Road North in Wadsworth, Ohio.
The players
Saini Stores Sunoco
A gas station in Wadsworth, Ohio where the winning lottery ticket was purchased.
Lorain County woman
The customer who purchased the winning $30 Extreme Millions scratch-off lottery ticket after being encouraged to do so by the store clerk.
What they’re saying
“Pick this one. It's probably a winner.”
— Store clerk
The takeaway
This story serves as a reminder that sometimes taking a chance on an unexpected recommendation can lead to life-changing results. The clerk's encouragement, coupled with the woman's willingness to trust her instincts, resulted in a substantial lottery win that will allow her to make important financial decisions for her future.
