I won a lotto prize worth $1 million but I only got $180,000 because of my ‘best friend’ agreement

A LOTTERY winner in Ohio got less than he bargained for thanks to a variety of factors that reduced his prize.

Three choices cut the $1 million lottery prize down to just $180,000.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1B44ym_0r4TsQgA00
Scratch cards can win big – but agreements, taxes, and other decisions can cut your prize Credit: Getty

A big part of that reduction was an agreement with a friend.

Dylan Smetzer and Olen Wright of Ohio bought the lucky ticket together, agreeing to split the winnings.

It’s unclear who paid, but the agreement held up and the duo divided the prize.

SCRATCH WINNINGS

Dylan and Olen were “work buddies and best friends” when they bought the ticket, a statement by Ohio’s lottery said.

They bought a $50 ticket for the scratch-off game “Billions,” a state scratch game, winning $50,000 a year for 25 years.

The $1 million value prize came from Tony’s Wine Barrel in Akron, Ohio.

The first loss came when the winners chose to take the lump sum, rather than the slow payouts.

Lump sums allow winners to get their money all at once, but it’s a smaller dollar amount.

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS