ROUND ROCK, Texas – It’s something everyone dreams about. Especially in these times of job losses due to the pandemic.
You stop at a gas station to fill up your vehicle’s gas tank. Maybe you do the self-pay at the pump. But then, when you’re finished with the task, a stroll into the store for a snack and a cold drink sounds mighty good. You walk back inside. You just got paid and are tempted by the Texas Lottery tickets’ display staring at you, placed “right there” by the cash register. And you think, “Maybe this time.” And you go for it.
“I’ll take one of those twenty-dollar ‘Million Dollar Loteria’ scratch tickets, please.” The nice clerk pulls one out of the display, hands it to you, and says, “Good luck!”
And you pray. And your palms sweat as you walk back to your car. Maybe your family is waiting for you, the kids all excited to see you have a scratch-off ticket and they all want it to scratch to reveal the numbers.
But you say, “No.” After all, you are the parent, and it was your money you spent. Or maybe you say, “Yes,” and let the youngest child have a go at it. “Thank you, thank you!” is the child’s reply.
Everyone waits, holds their breath, as one by one, the numbers are revealed. First one, then another and another, until the entire card is devoid of its crumbly silver coating – and you see it!
“One million dollars! We won! This card is a winner!” And the entire car erupts in screams. “We won! We’re rich!” Other people nearby pumping gas all stare at you, mouths agape.
That is just what happened this week to one lucky Round Rock resident – or a similar scenario, we suspect. The resident won $1 million on a scratch-off ticket, you bet. Was the winner a man or woman? Single or someone with a family? We don’t know, as the person chose the Texas Lottery option to remain anonymous.
We can only imagine the excitement when the card was scanned at the store and the bells and whistles sounded. Five distinct tones sound each time a winning ticket is scanned.
The ticket was purchased in Austin at Sam’s Mini Mart, 5210 Manor Road. The business will also benefit from the winning ticket, via the Texas Lottery Retailer Cash Incentive Program. Most receive a five percent sales commission on all lottery sales from their store. The average retailer commission in Fiscal Year 2019 was $17,151, according to the Texas Lottery.
So if you see your neighbor pull up in a brand new car in the near future, maybe you’ll be tempted to ask that Million-Dollar Question. Or perhaps the winning individual decides to go on a cruise, or purchase a different home, or just about anything we can each dream if we, too, would win $1 million – if you see that happening to someone nearby in Round Rock, just be sure to congratulate that neighbor. The winner may just treat you to a chicken dinner.
Now, go buy yourself a Texas Lottery ticket. You never know if the next winner could be you!