"Tough sales day" leads to a big break in luck
By Kate Northrop
ALAMOSA, Colo. — What seemed like an impossible situation is now one Colorado man's reality after he successfully lifted himself out of homelessness and proceeded to win $1 million in the lottery.
A formerly homeless Colorado man worked to remove himself from his unfortunate circumstances, and in doing so indirectly won a $1 million lottery prize.
Jonathan G. was having "a tough sales day" while working as a cell phone representative. He decided to try his luck with the lottery during a break at the Walmart Supercenter on Clark Street in Alamosa.
He's been playing scratch-off games on and off for a few years, he told the Colorado Lottery, but only when he could afford to. Jonathan will usually stick to the $5 games, recalling that the largest amount he'd ever won was $20.
This time, something nudged him away from the $5 tickets and toward those $20 tickets instead.
"Something in my head said, 'Hey, why not try for that $20 one? What's the worst that could happen?" the winner said in a Colorado Lottery Instagram post. "It was one of the best decisions I ever made."
He decided on the $20 "200X" instant ticket, which offers a chance to win a $1 million top prize.
"I was having a tough sales day, and it actually paid off," Jonathan recalled. "My reaction was total disbelief."
As the proud owner of one of the game's $1 million winning tickets, Jonathan visited Lottery offices in February to claim his prize, which will undoubtedly go a long way to change his circumstances even more.
Prior to the win, Jonathan had already begun to turn his life around. He had gone from living in a shelter to working a job and finding a place to call home.
"I definitely plan on giving my girlfriend and kids a life that I never thought was possible," the winner said when Lottery officials asked about his plans. "A little hope and perseverance and a gift of luck are going to give us a life we have been working very hard to have."
Jonathan claimed the first of two available top prizes of $1 million in the $20 "200X" scratch-off game, leaving one more top prize in the game. The game also offers four second-tier prizes of $50,000 and six third-tier prizes of $10,000.
The overall odds of winning any prize in the game are 1 in 3.27.
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She's ready to spend that money. Congrats to the lucky couple .
It's nice to see the Colorado Lottery in the news. I've played the 200X game a few times. One time I won $50.
"He's been playing scratch-off games on and off for a few years, he told the Colorado Lottery, but only when he could afford to. Jonathan will usually stick to the $5 games, recalling that the largest amount he'd ever won was $20.
...
"I was having a tough sales day, and it actually paid off," Jonathan recalled. "My reaction was total disbelief."
Those are opposites. Congratulations nonetheless.
What I love about the Colorado Lottery is that all of the proceeds go to outdoor recreation. None of it goes to the general fund or public education specifically. Unfortunately, their vending ticket machines are crap, so I've severely curtailed my spending since most of the ticket selection is in a vending machine. Oh well, I'll use OPM to ride my bike on the trails. Thanks!
Deserving
Congrats to Jonathan G and his family!
May the poor, despised, and dispossessed always succeed!
Been there done that with tough sales days. Some days are great, some are ok, some are downright "what am I doing here?".
Nice story with a happy ending.
Red flags went off with this story, but since he's not married yet, he should be careful.
I watch too many you tube stories where guys end up as step dads. Many are disrespected (you're not my Dad, etc.)
Maybe lady luck will strike him twice and she is a great girlfriend. I do give the story credit because it does not specify who's kids they are---hopefully theirs, not some 'baggage' she's bringing to the table. I feel inclined to think they are their kids!
Well none of that matters, it was a life turning around moment for them and that's great!
Very nice , congrats to the lucky guy.
Wow
Referring to step kids as baggage is pretty low. I grew up with several friends who had wonderful step dads and the step dads treated their step kids as their own. Children are not baggage.
I hope you never have step children.
Congratulations 🎉 on the win.
May the new found fortune bring you and your family joy.
How long before girlfriend gets the paws on the cash . 😂
Speaking of good fortune ....maybe they got there number from a fortune cookie. Perhaps they had chow mein or lo mein chop suey or egg foo young ...... maybe some pork fried rice and lobster sauce and a mai tai to wash it all done with.
With a meal like this who needs to win the lotto .....
Of course you could always go to my staple ..... Liverwurst sandwich with ...... and ...... and ..... and a side of ..... and to complete it a nice bottle of your favorite pop be it creme soda ..... birch beer ..... moxie or sasparilla.
Have a shaggy day!
ShsgE3
it was a scratcher, not a draw game. fortune cookie numbers don't work on scratchers.
maybe he found this scratcher in his jello salad.
Did you even read the article?
What does it have to do with chinese food?
As Brock Lee mentioned, it was a scratcher not a draw game.