A Toledo, Ohio player hit the jackpot twice on July 27, winning the $1 million top prize on two 'Millionaire Blowout' scratch-off tickets. The winner chose the $500,000 lump-sum option instead of the annuity, and after a 26.75% federal and state tax deduction, the first ticket paid out $366,250. A second ticket added another $18,312.50, bringing the total net winnings to $384,562.50.
Why the lump sum
Lottery winners often face a choice: take the full prize spread out over years, or grab a smaller amount right away. This player went with the lump sum, which cuts the headline number but puts cash in hand immediately. The 26.75% tax bite — a combination of federal and state withholding — reduced the first payout to $366,250. The second ticket, also a top prize, added $18,312.50 after the same tax rate, pushing the final take to $384,562.50.
What the taxes cover
The deduction isn't a single flat rate. It's the sum of federal income tax and Ohio state tax, both applied to lottery winnings. For a $500,000 lump sum, that works out to $133,750 in combined taxes, leaving $366,250. The second ticket, worth $25,000 before taxes, lost $6,687.50 to the same rate, leaving $18,312.50. The winner's total tax bill across both tickets came to $140,437.50.
What happens next
The winner hasn't been publicly identified, and lottery officials typically wait for the claim to be processed before releasing details. The tickets were sold in Toledo, but the exact retailer hasn't been named. The player has a set window to claim the prize — usually 180 days from the draw date — and after that, the money goes back into the prize pool. For now, the winner walks away with a check for $384,562.50, and the state gets its cut.
