LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville woman won thousands of dollars on just a 20-cent wager.
Laura Risen was playing the Kentucky Lottery’s online game, Merry Money Bonus, when she took home $117,000 on Dec. 8.
“It’s surreal,” she said. “It didn’t feel real, it’s a lot of money. It’s life changing.”
Laura told lottery officials that after putting her daughter to bed she usually plays lottery games as part of her nighttime routine. She's won here and there over the years, but having a jackpot win was totally unexpected.
“It still just doesn’t really feel real,” Laura said. “You just never have had that amount of money [come up].”
After revealing the big win, she said she woke up Robbie, her husband of 25 years, to show him the win.
“I woke him up and he was like, ‘nuh-uh,’” Laura said. “I knew that he wouldn’t believe it. I hadn’t even cleared off the game yet, so it showed down at the bottom that I won the $117,000.”
The couple told lottery officials they plan to use their winnings to pay off living expenses, for Christmas gifts for their children and grandchildren, and to make a donation to their church.
“It’s going to be spent on the right things because we’re not going out and blowing it,” Robbie said.
Laura and Robbie joked this would not be their last venture to the Kentucky Lottery headquarters.
“I’ll probably be in here next week to claim that Mega Millions jackpot, too,” Robbie said.
After taxes, lottery officials said the couple ended up walking away with $83,897.07.
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