'Lucky guy' sells ticket that wins half of $42 mllion Lotto jackpot

Feb 13, 2007, 8:22 am (23 comments)

Florida Lottery

Shortly after arriving in the United States from Vietnam 14 years ago, Kiet Ho says, he won $25,000 in Florida lottery games three years in a row.

Since then, he has been known around Margate as a lucky guy.

On Sunday Ho's luck struck again, but this time for a customer who won half of a $42 million jackpot after purchasing a ticket from him Saturday night at the Margate Chevron Gas Station, 5200 W. Sample Road.

"I'm happy for the guy," Ho said Sunday afternoon. "I'm lucky every time."

Lottery officials did not identify holders of the two winning tickets, from Margate and Port Charlotte, on Sunday.

But Ho said he thinks one of the winners was a man to whom he sold a ticket at about 9:30 Saturday night.

He said the man asked him to sell him a "good one."

"When I said, 'Good luck, see you tomorrow,' he said, 'I will come back and give you some,'" Ho said.

Ho said the man called him at the gas station early Sunday morning, asking what the winning numbers were. When Ho said the numbers 10-11-18-24-26-35, the man said: "Oh, my God, I have all the numbers. I won."

Ho did not know the man's name, but described him as a man in his 30s who comes to the station on Saturdays.

He said the man didn't return Sunday after the phone call.

A total of 235 tickets matched five numbers to win $4,641.50; 13,189 tickets matched four numbers for $67; and 267,136 tickets matched three numbers for $4.50, according to the Florida Lottery officials in Tallahassee.

Lottery officials said the station will get $22,500, but Ho and other employees said the money would go to the Chevron Co., not the person who sold the ticket.

Some customers said they weren't surprised that Ho, 44, of Coconut Creek, sold the winning ticket.

Norma Albarracin, a Publix employee who worked with Ho at a store near the station, said he always won the scratch-off game when he worked there.

She said when she heard the Chevron had sold one of the winning tickets, she knew Ho was involved. "He's very lucky," she said. "He always wins."

Kip Glueck, 51, a Margate resident, said he purchased $150 worth of tickets from the Chevron station hoping to win the $42 million jackpot because it's a lucky store.

"I've gotten more than 500 winners out of here," said Glueck. "That's why I come by here every morning."

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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Raven62's avatarRaven62

If you live in Florida: This looks like the place to buy your Winning Lottery Tickets!

DoubleDown

Lottery officials said the station will get $22,500, but Ho and other employees said the money would go to the Chevron Co., not the person who sold the ticket.

Just what Chevron needs.....more money.

DD

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Why shouldn't Chevron get the money?  Maybe they'll donate it to charity. Actually, I'm pretty sure the store owner gets the bonus, but it depends upon the agreement he has with Chevron.  By the way, Ho is just trying to get a reward.  First of all, the man who bought the ticket said in an interview that he and his wife check their numbers online and that's how they discovered they won.  There was no mention at all about calling the store. 

When Ho said the numbers 10-11-18-24-26-35, the man said: "Oh, my God, I have all the numbers. I won."

This story just didn't sound right to me when I first read it.  I guess we'll see if there is another story printed.

Of course I think it would be nice if clerks got a share when a player wins a jackpot, but they don't work on commission and shouldn't expect to get a "tip" for hitting a button.  In fact, I stay away from the stores where I've been asked "Will you give me some?" or "Don't forget me if you win." I'm a very friendly person and I always ask a cashier "How are you today?" I've worked in many stores and understand what it's like to work on your feet all day.  But if I spend my own money that I work for buying a lottery ticket, I feel absolutely no obligation to write the clerk a check if I win. 
 

DoubleDown

Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Feb 13, 2007

Why shouldn't Chevron get the money?  Maybe they'll donate it to charity. Actually, I'm pretty sure the store owner gets the bonus, but it depends upon the agreement he has with Chevron.  By the way, Ho is just trying to get a reward.  First of all, the man who bought the ticket said in an interview that he and his wife check their numbers online and that's how they discovered they won.  There was no mention at all about calling the store. 

When Ho said the numbers 10-11-18-24-26-35, the man said: "Oh, my God, I have all the numbers. I won."

This story just didn't sound right to me when I first read it.  I guess we'll see if there is another story printed.

Of course I think it would be nice if clerks got a share when a player wins a jackpot, but they don't work on commission and shouldn't expect to get a "tip" for hitting a button.  In fact, I stay away from the stores where I've been asked "Will you give me some?" or "Don't forget me if you win." I'm a very friendly person and I always ask a cashier "How are you today?" I've worked in many stores and understand what it's like to work on your feet all day.  But if I spend my own money that I work for buying a lottery ticket, I feel absolutely no obligation to write the clerk a check if I win. 
 

Chevron deserves the money if the agreement is in place, of course.
My point was that's just what they need is more $$$$

I betcha they donate it to their own favorite charity. Themselves.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Now that I've read the latest press release in Florida, either the clerk was telling the truth or it was a lucky guess.  The winner is 26 and is a male. 

It doesn't matter, he blew it when he told a reporter he expected something.  Maybe the winner would have quietly given him a gift to say thanks, but after reading the above article, I might stay way from that store for a while.

Interesting comment the winner made, but it might be a misquote.  He's 26 and said he'll never work again (as I said, if the article is correct) and then added "hard work pays off eventually."  He's only 26!  How hard has he worked?  LOL

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Have you ever played a ticket for the clerk? I've always wondered what would happen if you did, if you said this is for you, and the numbers hit (same ticket that you played for yourself, too, of course). 

I've done it, figure it's just like betting for a blackjack dealer....this way you have someon else 'rooting for' your numbers.  

BaristaExpress's avatarBaristaExpress

I Agree! with you DD.

Yes, Chevron owned stations are still out there! They are called corporate owned stores/stations.

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

 "Ho is just trying to get a reward."

"It doesn't matter, he blew it when he told a reporter he expected something."

Each winner will have their own reason for giving or not giving something to the person who sold them a winning ticket. For my part, I'd figure it's just human nature to hope for a reward and I certainly wouldn't hold that against him. Telling the press who I am, OTOH, would very definitely get them a result, and it wouldn't be the one they were hoping for. If I gave a press conference I'd make a point of saying that I would have given the clerk 25 grand if they hadn't invaded my privacy by shooting off their mouth.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by BaristaExpress on Feb 13, 2007

I Agree! with you DD.

Yes, Chevron owned stations are still out there! They are called corporate owned stores/stations.

Oh, I never really thought about it.  The BP station I often use is locally owned and operated. They don't sell lottery tickets however.  It would be nice if Chevron donated the money to the local community if it is a corporate owned station. 

"If you live in Florida: This looks like the place to buy your Winning Lottery Tickets!"

Raven62, between the gas, the 240 mile round trip drive and the tolls, I'll pass.   I need to find a lucky local place!  Smiley

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

I have read and re-read this article , can someone please recite the paragraph where HO said he "expected" the money for selling the ticket? The best I could read "into" this article is he was happy for the winner and folks think that HO is lucky.

I agree in part that the person behind the counter isnt entitled or mandated to have a share in the winnings. I am against tipping . And on a contradictory note, I'll give to those in need. Ask humbly and ye shall receive.... beg for it/or expect it and I doubt I'd be so recipricating.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by TheGameGrl on Feb 15, 2007

I have read and re-read this article , can someone please recite the paragraph where HO said he "expected" the money for selling the ticket? The best I could read "into" this article is he was happy for the winner and folks think that HO is lucky.

I agree in part that the person behind the counter isnt entitled or mandated to have a share in the winnings. I am against tipping . And on a contradictory note, I'll give to those in need. Ask humbly and ye shall receive.... beg for it/or expect it and I doubt I'd be so recipricating.

Sorry you wore yourself out reading something over and over again.  Sometimes things are "implied" and most of this article was about the store clerk and how lucky he is.  Is it his fault?  No.  However, the article reads: 

I'm happy for the guy," Ho said Sunday afternoon. "I'm lucky every time."

"When I said, 'Good luck, see you tomorrow,' he said, 'I will come back and give you some,'" Ho said.

He might be the nicest, most honest guy in the world. Who knows? This type of article is very common.  Cashiers, clerks and store owners are interviewed by reporters all the time.  Just was making a comment, since he really had no idea who the winner was at the time this was published. Sounded like wishful thinking, although it's possible that the man who bought the ticket did buy it from him and did tell him he'd come back and "give him some."  I'm sure all the commotion at the store got everyone excited.

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Thanks for clarifying. So most who chose to misinterpret the sentences and add a spin to it came to such conclusion. Good thing that I took the original article as it was composed. With no Underlying intent by the cashier.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Absolutely. In fact, this paragraph alone shows that the reporter wasn't too familiar with the lottery or was searching for something to fill in some blank space on the page.

 

Lottery officials said the station will get $22,500, but Ho and other employees said the money would go to the Chevron Co., not the person who sold the ticket.

 

I mean, would anyone actually think the person who sells a winning ticket gets the bonus?  I'm still not sure anyone here was misinterpreting as much as offering an opinion.  In my case, I was only saying I wouldn't want all that local publicity if I were the winner and, I wouldn't appreciate hearing that I told someone I'd give him a share (unless I did.)   I'm sure Mr. & Mrs. McNair (the winners) don't really care what Ho did or did not say now that they have their money!  Maybe there is something missing from this story since, as I said, I don't see how anyone could possibly know who purchased the winning ticket or when, unless the lottery furnished that information.  It was only an assumption on the clerk's part that it was a guy he sold a ticket to at 9:30 Sat night. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the lottery doesn't furnish that information before the ticket is claimed, but I am not 100% sure.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

he is very lucky indeed....

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Feb 15, 2007

Absolutely. In fact, this paragraph alone shows that the reporter wasn't too familiar with the lottery or was searching for something to fill in some blank space on the page.

 

Lottery officials said the station will get $22,500, but Ho and other employees said the money would go to the Chevron Co., not the person who sold the ticket.

 

I mean, would anyone actually think the person who sells a winning ticket gets the bonus?  I'm still not sure anyone here was misinterpreting as much as offering an opinion.  In my case, I was only saying I wouldn't want all that local publicity if I were the winner and, I wouldn't appreciate hearing that I told someone I'd give him a share (unless I did.)   I'm sure Mr. & Mrs. McNair (the winners) don't really care what Ho did or did not say now that they have their money!  Maybe there is something missing from this story since, as I said, I don't see how anyone could possibly know who purchased the winning ticket or when, unless the lottery furnished that information.  It was only an assumption on the clerk's part that it was a guy he sold a ticket to at 9:30 Sat night. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the lottery doesn't furnish that information before the ticket is claimed, but I am not 100% sure.

It would be reasonable to think it's the person who sells the ticket that gets the bonus if you just know that the lottery pays a bonus for selling a winning ticket. As an incentive to sell tickets it would probably make more sense for the lottery to pay the person selling the ticket than the person who owns the store. The store owner already has a profit motive for selling tickets, but the clerks only have motive for doing a good job.

As far as Ho guessing at who bought the winning ticket,  the article says the guy he referred to called to check the numbers and said he had won. That would give Ho a perfectly good reason for thinking he knew who the winner was. I'm sure I've occasionally seen reports that give at least a general time that a winning ticket was sold, and it's possible that the retailer who sells a winner gets better info than what we see in the news. Especially in a store that doesn't sell that many tickets, a narrow time frame could give the clerks a good idea who a winner might be. FWIW, I've always been a bit puzzled that the lottery would reveal the time a ticket is sold or the specific location, since that information is potentially useful if there is a dispute over ownership.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

KY Floyd, as long as there is a video of whoever sells the ticket, I suppose it wouldn't matter if a bonus was paid, but it might open up a big can of worms, IMHO.  Anyway, it has no effect on me, so I don't care.  I think it would be wonderful if store owner decided to share his good fortune should he receive a bonus from the lottery.

Regarding the time or date a ticket is sold, I agree that this information should not be revealed, but the place of purchase is always listed immediately.  When a ticket has not been claimed, the lottery posts a warning, but I've never once seen a date or time until the actual ticket is claimed. I think it's for the very reason you state. I'm quite sure that is one of the questions asked when the tickets is claimed.

This whole thing has been over-analyzed. I only made some comments about the article because it doesn't seem to correspond with what the winner said, that's all.  There's so much hype when one of the larger jackpots is won. If the winner hadn't shown up in Tallahassee right away, there probably would have been another story. 

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

I spoke too soon. There is another News Story!!

The Sun-Sentinel must be hurting for exciting news stories.  There is another story about this win.  This time it is about the "big" difference. Seems that instead of $42 million, the jackpot was $44 million. (FL games are pari-mutuel) The winners who bought the ticket in Margate claimed it the next day, so they didn't have the final calculations. Another player also won, so they are getting a million more less taxes. 

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Just thought people might want to see part of the article.  Read the last paragraph and keep in mind that this is an article about how 2 lucky winners shared a $44 million jackpot.  First the store is contacted and there is an article about how lucky the store clerk has been.  Then there is another article about how lucky the winner is to receive another check, since the jackpot was larger than estimated.  So why write this?  As I said, I really believe this newspaper has way too much blank space!  Here is part of the article.

".......McNair, who couldn't be reached Wednesday, is getting the adjusted prize. After 25 percent in taxes is deducted from about $22.3 million he won, he will take home $16.7 million, given to him in $557,000 installments annually for the next 30 years.

McNair bought his ticket at a Margate gas station. The other ticket, bought in Port Charlotte, hasn't been claimed.

Odds of winning the jackpot are one in 23 million, the Florida Lottery said. "Basically, the same as whether you buy the ticket or not," said Eric A. Suess, a statistics professor at California State University, East Bay."

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

"Basically, the same as whether you buy the ticket or not," said Eric A. Suess, a statistics professor at California State University, East Bay."

 Yo, professor, actually your chances are a lot better if you buy a ticket than if you don't. There's never been a jackpot winner who didn't buy the winning ticket. 

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Feb 17, 2007

"Basically, the same as whether you buy the ticket or not," said Eric A. Suess, a statistics professor at California State University, East Bay."

 Yo, professor, actually your chances are a lot better if you buy a ticket than if you don't. There's never been a jackpot winner who didn't buy the winning ticket. 

Didn't he write The Cat in The Hat?  Jester Laugh

 

My lottery tickets are pink, I think.

Pink? Do you really think they're pink?

Yes, they're pink and very distinct.

Do they shrink, your tickets so pink & distinct?

No, but sometimes I think they stink (she says with a wink!)

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Feb 17, 2007

"Basically, the same as whether you buy the ticket or not," said Eric A. Suess, a statistics professor at California State University, East Bay."

 Yo, professor, actually your chances are a lot better if you buy a ticket than if you don't. There's never been a jackpot winner who didn't buy the winning ticket. 

As somebody who thinks that the number of ways to lose means  that buying 2 tickets doesn't double your chances of winning, you should  easily be able to relate to what he said.

There are 22,999,999 numbers that will mean you lose if you buy a ticket. There are 23 million numbers that will mean you lose if you don't buy a ticket. If you don't buy a ticket your odds of losing are only .0000044% worse than if you do buy a ticket.

pumpi76

Look at the Chicago Bulls and the NBA for example...I am sure every team will have the odds of winning the NBA Championship...But what are the odds that one team will win it almost 7 year in a row?That's what make the Chicago Bulls the greatest thing ever..I am sure some teams may come close to getting 7 championships on their lifetime, but no team will win it in a row, that's what make the Chicago Bulls (under MIchael Jordan), the greatest team EVER (which made Michael Jordan the greatest player ever)...What make the Chicago Bulls the greatest thing ever? That they won the NBA championship almost 7 years in a row...If they had won it sporadically they probably wouldn't be considered the greatest team ever...

 

 

"Laura Simpson from Great Lakes, Illinois deserves to be rich...."               "She is so rare..."

pumpi76

Quote: Originally posted by pumpi76 on Feb 23, 2007

Look at the Chicago Bulls and the NBA for example...I am sure every team will have the odds of winning the NBA Championship...But what are the odds that one team will win it almost 7 year in a row?That's what make the Chicago Bulls the greatest thing ever..I am sure some teams may come close to getting 7 championships on their lifetime, but no team will win it in a row, that's what make the Chicago Bulls (under MIchael Jordan), the greatest team EVER (which made Michael Jordan the greatest player ever)...What make the Chicago Bulls the greatest thing ever? That they won the NBA championship almost 7 years in a row...If they had won it sporadically they probably wouldn't be considered the greatest team ever...

 

 

"Laura Simpson from Great Lakes, Illinois deserves to be rich...."               "She is so rare..."

sorry guys i posted on the wrong post...

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