A father and son from Halstad in northwestern Minnesota both won the $100,000 top prize in the Dec. 2 All or Nothing drawing.
Pedro Ruiz Jr. was on his way to dinner Dec. 2 when his father, Pedro Ruiz Sr., called asking him to purchase All or Nothing tickets for the weekend drawings. Ruiz bought his father's ticket in Gary and later decided to buy his own ticket in Mahnomen. Ruiz Jr. played the opposite numbers that were on his father's ticket.
To win the $100,000 top prize a ticket must either match all of the 12 winning numbers or none of the winning numbers.
A few hours after the drawing, the family discovered that Ruiz Sr. was a $100,000 winner because his ticket did not match any of the winning numbers. Later that night, Ruiz Jr. realized his ticket matched all of the winning numbers.
"It's a miracle, a true gift from God," Ruiz Sr. said at State Lottery headquarters Tuesday in Roseville.
Ruiz Jr. said he prayed to his late mother for the money to visit her burial site in Texas.
"The first thing we are going to do is visit her and erect a nice memorial stone to her," Ruiz Jr. said. "This is a wonderful gift that will allow us to re-invest in the family."
The Minnesota State Lottery says this is the first time that tickets matching all of the winning numbers and none of the winning numbers were sold for the same drawing.
Another feel good story.
Congratulations to Father and Son!
Christmas just got a bit warmer for them. That is needed in a place like NW Minnesota! Congrats!
The snowbirds of Minnesota have probably traveled South to Florida.
Okay I know I turned a year older the other day, but can someone tell me if I am missing something here. They said the father played 1 set and the son played the opposite numbers of his father and they both won. How is this possible?
Maybe I am really having a senior moment, because it would seem that some of their numbers should match each others ticket, if they both won in the same drawing?
12 out of 24 need to match or not match to win the $100K.
The Minnesota State Lottery says this is the first time that tickets matching all of the winning numbers and none of the winning numbers were sold for the same drawing.
On this game you can win the jackpot by matching none of the numbers, or all of the numbers. Hence the name, All or Nothing. Same with the other prize levels, by matching some of the numbers, or not.
Just reminded me that a few years ago in Texas a guy won the jackpot twice on the same draw. He played a set of numbers, and played the opposite set so he won with all 12, and with 0. Won himself $500,000. I have played the same way myself a few times.
Wait so all you have to do to win is not match any numbers. Man I like this game already.
To win a jackpot, hit all 12 or hit 0. If you get 5,6, or 7 numbers right, you win nothing. I like to play it, and it looks easy, but it is not.
I usually win back about 40%-50% of my money back, which is good for lottery for a lottery game. Good overall odds.
I play "QUICK DRAW" which is NYS's KENO type game. A lot of the times I play, I get a "10 SPOT" which if I get all 10 of 10 pays $100,000, but getting no numbers only pay $5!
HA! that's funny, NY Lottery seems to be all about themselves.
But this still is a GREAT story!