OK, lottery players, time to spill the beans! Whether it was a $1 scratch-off or a Mega Millions ticket, we’re curious: What’s the most you’ve ever won from the lottery?
For some of you, it might have been enough for a vacation, a fancy dinner, or even a few nights at that fancy RV resort you’ve always wanted to stay at. For others, well, maybe that ticket just made for a good story.
We know most folks aren’t walking around with million-dollar tickets in their glove compartments, but you never know. That’s part of what makes lottery tickets so enticing: the dream of a big win. Even a small prize can be a thrill, especially when you’re on the road and find yourself scratching off a ticket at a lonely gas station in the middle of nowhere.
So today’s question is simple, and fun: What’s the most you’ve ever won from a lottery ticket?
After you cast your vote in the poll, we’d love to hear the story behind it. Was it pure luck, a birthday gift that paid off, or a random “why not?” moment at the checkout counter?
And if you’ve never won—or never played—that’s okay, too. Some people play regularly, others only during big jackpots, and some avoid it altogether. But if you’ve ever scored more than a few bucks, don’t be shy. You don’t have to tell us the amount, but maybe toss a little hope our way!
Let’s see if any of you have hit it big. Or even semi-big. At the very least, maybe someone’s prize covered a tank of gas (that’s expensive these days!). Vote now, and then scroll down to the comments to join the fun.
MORE POLLS YOU’LL ENJOY:
- How often do you buy a lottery ticket?
- Do you like to RV travel with a planned itinerary or just be spontaneous?
- Would you recommend RVing to a friend?
- Who will decide when to hang up your RV keys?
RVDT2689
My late mother-in-law (a CHRONIC scratch off ticket customer), purchased $45 worth of scratch offs while shopping with me a few years ago. Once home, she sat at her kitchen table, diligent scratching off her tickets. When finished, I asked “how’d you make out?” She excitedly stated, “I won $25!!!” I suddenly understood why she always claimed that she ALWAYS WON!!!
One year I bought a lottery ticket every week and kept track of $ out and $ in just for the tickets. I came out $8 ahead. Now I rarely buy one.
On my Granddaughters 18th birthday she received 20 scratch offs…Not one was a winner! It was a good lesson for her.
The lottery is rigged against the mathematically challenged. Designed so politicians can take your money.
Never wasted my money on lottery tickets. It is a suckers bet and the only winners are the Lottery Sponsors and Casino owners.
Lottery ticket winnings are about the same as going to a Casino.
You very, very seldom come out ahead.
We had a guy at work that used to visit a Casino almost every weekend.
Every so often he’d come to work and brag about winning $$$.
But, how much did he actually lose in previous weeks to win big once?
I stopped at a casino to use the restroom. I had 4 quarters in my pocket. I put them in the slot nearest the exit. 8 quarters dropped. Hey! Doubled my money!. Why screw with the odds? Back on the road a few moments later.
Hi, Jim. That reminds me of a story I heard about 55 years ago. I went to the laundromat and the attendant was telling a customer that she and her husband had gone to Las Vegas. She stayed in their room to unpack, while he went down to try a little gambling. A few minutes later he was back in their room and told her to pack up because they were going home. He had won $20,000. (Smart man!) Have a great day! 😀 –Diane
A good friend always bought $10-20 dollars worth of lottery tickets each week in St Paul, Minnesota. One day he said ‘let’s take a ride to Hudson, Wisconsin to buy lottery tickets.’ It was only a few miles from the Twin Cities so I said okay but told him ‘you know it is the same lottery don’t you.’ His reply, ‘there are more winners from Wisconsin.’ I said we needed to have a discussion about statistics…
On the way home I offered him a deal: if he gave me that amount of money each week I would put it in a safe investment and after one year we would split the money. That way we both would come out ahead. He laughed…and still buys lottery tickets.
Some negative comments here. We buy them for the fun of it. Never spend too much money. Once in a while we might hit a big 5$ winner. Then we might buy 2 or 3 one-dollar tickets. Just horrible the way we throw our money away.
I have always found it ironic that the Pennsylvania Lottery’s motto is ” Benefits Seniors” when I see little old ladies dropping $20 on lottery tickets.
I don’t buy lottery tickets unless the prize is around $4 million…..anything less is just not worth it. I heard it said about the difference in praying in church and buying a lottery ticket….you really mean it when you buy a lottery ticket!
$17 from a scratch-off ticket. I had bought 7 $1 tickets, so I came out ahead. I’ve probably bought 20 $1 tickets in 10 years.
My husband’s best friend of over 50 years hit a 37 million power ball. That’s as close as I will ever get!
My hubby is the lottery player in our family. He’s won over $100,000 total, counting a Dodge Viper 30 years ago. His motto is: You have to play to win. My motto is: Only play if you can afford to lose.
$5
We do not ever recall buying a lottery ticket.
Thank you for the questiin, RV Travel! In order to win something in a lottery, one must play the lottery. I played 2 or 3 times over the previous 25 years and none over the last 10 years. I think that I won $2 once. Have a great day and safe travels!
When the Texas lottery came out in the early 1990s, I bought a total of 5 $1 scratch off tickets. The first four were losers, the fifth was a $5 winner. I broke even, and decided that was the best I was likely to ever do, and have not bought a lottery ticket since.
You know, they probably start off with some loss leaders – making sure enough people win to get everyone hooked, then go back to the real odds.
Most ever won was $46, but one of the first winners of the Virginia Lottery had a very similar name. We got dozens of phone calls and letters asking for help, handouts, or “investment opportunities” from people who thought it was us. No new relatives though, after all it was only one million.