In what can only be described as a stroke of incredible luck mixed with a dash of serendipity, an Indiana man’s typical day turned extraordinary, leading him to tears of joy as he found himself $250,000 richer, courtesy of a winning scratch-off lottery ticket. Bradley Ficus from the small town of Jasonville joined the league of instant high-earners when he uncovered the grand prize of the Hoosier Lottery’s Platinum Payout game.
Ficus has made it a habit to indulge in the simple pleasure of purchasing Hoosier Lottery scratch-offs during his regular stops for gas. On a day like any other, as he was driving home from work, the unexpected happened — his vehicle indicated low fuel. Without hesitation, he pulled over at his local Country Mart gas station to address the fuel situation. During this unscheduled stop, he decided to try his luck by buying two scratch-off tickets valued at $10 each, perhaps in anticipation of that small thrill one gets from the possibility of a win, however unlikely.
The lottery disclosed that upon his return home, Bradley, in a generous mood, offered one of the tickets to his girlfriend for her to scratch. This felt like just a routine unwind until Bradley’s calm demeanor shifted dramatically. While scratching the tickets, he was suddenly caught off guard. “No way! This can’t be real!” he exclaimed in disbelief. Upon that surprising moment, his girlfriend took a look at the ticket and equally shared in the disbelief. Initially, she thought it was an elaborate joke until it became clear that Bradley had snagged the top prize.
Adding to the excitement and perhaps to settle any lasting doubts, Ficus used the Hoosier Lottery app to scan the ticket, which confirmed what they could hardly believe — the $250,000 win was indeed real. At this point, overcome with emotion, he could do nothing but burst into tears. It was a life-changing moment, crystallized with the scan of a barcode.
Looking ahead, Ficus shared his plans for the windfall, which are rooted in practicality and forward-thinking. He aims to make a down payment on a house, a goal that most strive towards for years. Additionally, he expressed the intent to purchase a camper — maybe to roam and explore with the comfort of knowing his bank account supported such leisure. A part of the prize will also be allocated to investments, ensuring that this moment of financial boon will have a lasting impact on his future.
The Platinum Payout that paved the way for Ficus’s lucky break is just one of many scratch-off games offered by the Indiana Lottery. For the price of $10, patrons get a shot at the elusive grand prize, and while the odds of winning the top prize sit at an estimated one in 3.76, for Ficus, those odds were greatly in his favor.
Lottery tickets like the Platinum Payout can be purchased at various locales, including gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery outlets, not to mention certain airport terminals. On top of the traditional ticket buying methods, digital avenues have surfaced in the form of apps like Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Users in numerous states and territories can now order tickets online through Jackpocket, and manage all aspects of their lottery experience from the comfort of their phones or home computers.
This story not only serves as a testament to the randomness and excitement that the lottery brings into people’s lives but also reminds us of the touching human moments that can result from a simple scratch-off. Bradley Ficus’s tears symbolize the joy and hope that a lucky break can bring, forever altering one’s life in the few seconds it takes to scratch a ticket.
