OHIO — A woman from Youngstown has won the $300,000 top prize on the Ohio Lottery’s Special Edition Cashword scratch-off game.
According to the Ohio Lottery Commission, the winning ticket was purchased earlier this year at Certified Oil on North Canfield Niles Road in Austintown.
The woman, originally from New Jersey, moved to Youngstown in late 2024 with her fiancé for his job.
She told lottery officials that her fiancé had previously bought her five $5 scratch-off tickets, and she won $15.
After a trip to visit family in New Jersey, she returned and used those winnings to buy three more tickets — one of which turned out to be the $300,000 winner.
At first, she believed she had only won $5,000 because she couldn’t find the 10th word in the puzzle game. But after scanning the ticket using the Ohio Lottery app, she was surprised with the message: “Congratulations! You won $300,000!”
After mandatory state and federal taxes totaling 28%, she will receive $216,000. She said she plans to use the money for a vacation and to treat her fiancé.
Special Edition Cashword is a $5 scratch-off game with a top prize of $300,000. As of July 15, three top prizes remain unclaimed.
