A Missouri Lottery player patiently waited for his wife to get home to share the news he had uncovered a $50,000 Scratchers prize. The win came on a “500X Payout” ticket he purchased at 87 Eagle Stop, 19618 Steven Kole Court, in Boonville – though she wasn’t sure if she should believe him.

The couple shared how the events unfolded while claiming their prize at Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City on May 22.

“It was my birthday, and my sister-in-law had made me a carrot cake,” the wife laughed. “He showed me the ticket, and I thought it was a joke – one of those fake tickets! I looked at it and said, ‘That’s nice’ and went back to eating my cake.”

After a few minutes, he convinced her it was an actual ticket and they had won $50,000.

“I was really excited,” she shared. “But you should have tasted this carrot cake!”

 “500X Payout” players have won more than $20.8 million in prizes since the game was released in March. Currently there are over $239.4 million in prizes unclaimed, including two top tier prizes of $5 million, three second-tier $1 million prizes and 48 additional $50,000 prizes.

During FY25 players in Cooper County won more than $2.9 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received more than $289,900 in commissions and bonuses, and more than $698,000 in Lottery proceeds went to educational programs in the county.