How lucky can you get!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Itź??s one of those winner stories thatź??s hard to believe. Edward Williams won $75,000 last September playing a $10 scratch ticket. Today, he was back at Kansas Lottery headquarters claiming an $896,487 Super Kansas Cash jackpot!

ź??When I hit $75,000, I figured lightning struck once, it wonź??t ever hit again,ź?ť said the 47-year-old double winner. ź??This one knocked me flat!ź?ť

The astonished Wichita resident matched all numbers in the Wednesday, August 5, Super Kansas Cash drawing to win the jackpot. Super Kansas Cash jackpots are paid in a single cash lump sum. After income taxes of $268,946.10 are withheld from his prize (5% state tax of $44,824.35 and 25% federal tax of $224,121.75), Williams will take home a check for $627,540.90.

ź??When I won the $75,000, I bought a car and put the rest of the winnings into a CD,ź?ť Williams said. ź??This time, Iź??m saving it for retirement, which I hope to do at 55.ź?ť

Williams, who is single, has worked for almost 17 years at Johnson Controls in Wichita. Before that, he was in the Marines.

Williamsź?? lucky Super Kansas Cash ticket was a $5 Quick Pick. He says he purchases a $5 Quick Pick for every Super Kansas Cash drawing. This one was purchased at Yogiź??s Grill & Bar, located at 2804 S. Seneca in Wichita. For selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the retailer is eligible for a $1,000 bonus.

ź??Youź??ve got to play to win, weź??ve all heard that,ź?ť said Williams. ź??Iź??ve been playing Super Kansas Cash, Powerball and other lottery games consistently for 17 years. Just keep on playing, thatź??s the best advice I have for other people looking for that big win.ź?ť

The Super Kansas Cash jackpot returns to $100,000 for the Saturday, August 8, drawing. The Hot Lotto jackpot is an estimated $15.03 million ($9.48 million cash) for Saturday. If hit, it will be the second-largest Hot Lotto jackpot in the history of the game. The Powerball jackpot for Saturday is an estimated $161 million ($80 million cash).