It was a lucky call for a Missouri Lottery player when he decided to purchase a few “20X Crossword” Scratchers tickets at Break Time, 1405 N. Bluff, in Fulton. In a game that offers players more prizes for each word they scratch and match on their ticket, he was floored when he realized he’d matched eight words, along with a 20X multiplier, to win one of the game’s top prizes.
“I thought I won $1,000, but when I scanned the ticket, the machine said I had won $100,000,” the winner explained. “That is when I realized I missed two words: react and turnover.”
Those last two words brought his win up to top-prize status. While claiming his winnings at Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City, he shared plans to use the money to pay off debt and save toward buying a house.
“20X Crossword” Scratchers players have won over $8.8 million in prizes playing the $5 game. Over $8.3 million in unclaimed prizes remain – including three additional $100,000 prizes.
In FY24, players in Callaway County won more than $7.8 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received more than $740,000 in commissions and bonuses, and more than $1.9 million in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county.