Man who had open-heart surgery wins $1 million from lottery ticket stuffed in a get-well card

Dec 4, 2021, 4:38 pm (11 comments)

Massachusetts Lottery

A Massachusetts man recovering from open-heart surgery won a $1 million lottery prize on a scratch-off ticket given to him by a friend, according to lottery officials.

Alexander McLeish received three scratch-off tickets in a get-well card from a friend earlier this month, according to a news release from the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission.

As McLeish scratched off the first three letters on the crossword lottery ticket, his first glimpse of good luck was revealing his initials: A, W and M. As he continued matching letters to words on the lottery ticket, for a game called $5,000,000 100X Cashword, he revealed the word "heart" on the bottom row of the puzzle.

The man wound up winning the second top prize for the game — $1 million. There are only 10 total prize winners for that amount on the $20 lottery ticket. The top prize is $5 million.

This wasn't the first time McLeish won on a ticket given to him by his friend. Several years ago, he won $1,000 on a lottery ticket his friend gave him for his birthday, according to lottery officials.

McLeish claimed his $1 million prize Friday and chose the cash option. Before taxes, he received a one-time payment of $650,000, according to the news release.

No word on whether he will give his friend any of the prize money.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

He better give him half of that or he ain't as good of a friend as his friend is.

And you know his friend is gonna be waitin' and watchin' and wonderin'.

I wonder if he gave him any of the grand that he won last time though?

That would be a clue as to what he's gonna do this time.

Hope he ain't a cheapskate. 

Mata Garbo

 Depending on what type of person he is, i'm sure he has contacted the friend in private, thanked him. and offered him a generous share of the cash. There are some people who would say "you had the ticket and gave it away!"you deserve nothing". Hopefully he is not in that group. Congrats to Mr. McLeish.

Cheers

Tony Numbers's avatarTony Numbers

If the lottery tickets were given as a gift, why do people feel that the gift giver should be entitled to any of the winnings? This only seems to occur with games of chance. Is there a stipulation that says hey by the way if you win I get half okay.

PrisonerSix

Quote: Originally posted by Tony Numbers on Dec 4, 2021

If the lottery tickets were given as a gift, why do people feel that the gift giver should be entitled to any of the winnings? This only seems to occur with games of chance. Is there a stipulation that says hey by the way if you win I get half okay.

I've used $1 scratch off Christmas themed tickets as tags on Christmas presents because they have TO: and FROM: blanks on them. I've never expected anyone to give me any of the prize is they won, but nobody I've done that for has.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Tony Numbers on Dec 4, 2021

If the lottery tickets were given as a gift, why do people feel that the gift giver should be entitled to any of the winnings? This only seems to occur with games of chance. Is there a stipulation that says hey by the way if you win I get half okay.

I would do it without a 2nd thought.  And any family member or friend of mine would do the same. I couldn't imagine that not happening. No family member or friend of mine would be that greedy and ungrateful.

Mata Garbo

Quote: Originally posted by PrisonerSix on Dec 4, 2021

I've used $1 scratch off Christmas themed tickets as tags on Christmas presents because they have TO: and FROM: blanks on them. I've never expected anyone to give me any of the prize is they won, but nobody I've done that for has.

It's the size of the prize that makes the difference. If you gift someone a ticket and they win $10,000,  of course they are not going to be looking to share a small prize. But in this particular case we are talking about winning a million dollars. There is a big difference. Of course you will not be "expecting"  a call from them, but the lucky winner would probably call you anyway and make you an offer. It's up to you whether or not you chose to accept. That way it's a win-win for both of you.

Mail For YouCheers

sully16's avatarsully16

What a great story, congrats to the lucky guy, hope he makes a full recovery. 

Pick3master3838's avatarPick3master3838

I would give him 10%. Many years ago I was filling out Pick 3 betslips when I first moved to Florida. I was playing all the local area code numbers. The clerk noticed it, and told me I was missing one local the area code number, it was 949. I played the number, and it came out straight that very night. I returned the next day and cashed out $500 and tried to slip the lady 50 bucks but according to Publix Supermarket, they're not allowed to take tips, so I crumbled the $50 bill up into a little tiny wad and just place it in front of her and left, she smiled.

Speler

An ex-colleague had an open-heart surgery. They cut his thorax open for that. He didn't win a cent and had to work like all the others.

Pick3master3838's avatarPick3master3838

Quote: Originally posted by Speler on Dec 6, 2021

An ex-colleague had an open-heart surgery. They cut his thorax open for that. He didn't win a cent and had to work like all the others.

That's part of the procedure. No money to be won...

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Pick3master3838 on Dec 6, 2021

I would give him 10%. Many years ago I was filling out Pick 3 betslips when I first moved to Florida. I was playing all the local area code numbers. The clerk noticed it, and told me I was missing one local the area code number, it was 949. I played the number, and it came out straight that very night. I returned the next day and cashed out $500 and tried to slip the lady 50 bucks but according to Publix Supermarket, they're not allowed to take tips, so I crumbled the $50 bill up into a little tiny wad and just place it in front of her and left, she smiled.

That was nice of ya but if she had bought you the ticket what would you have given her?

End of comments
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