COLUMBIA, SC (December 13, 2007) – “I was hoping I’d win some money for Christmas gifts,” Ervin Ratterree, Jr. said about purchasing a Cash Bonanza Riches instant ticket. “I never thought I’d win one million dollars though!”
It took the clerk at the store and his father-in-law to convince Ratterree of his win. “One million dollars? Is this right?” he thought. “My face went pale and I just started shaking all over.”
Ratterree, a 52-year-old South Carolina native, lives in Catawba. He’s a lottery player who’s a familiar face at Lesslie Food Shop in Rock Hill where he bought the winning ticket. “Cash Bonanza Riches is my favorite game. I’ve been playing the Lottery since it started, and I’ve won quite a few times, but this is obviously the most I’ve ever won,” Ratterree said.
So what plans does this new millionaire have? “It’ll be a great Christmas for my family! And I will pay off my house, then put the money in the bank so I can retire one day,” Ratterree said.
Cash Bonanza Riches is a ten-dollar ticket and one of SCEL’s most popular games. Four $1 million top prizes are still in the game with more than $58 million total prizes just waiting to be won.
Since its inception in 2002, the South Carolina Education Lottery has launched more than 240 instant games and five online games. Currently, SCEL offers approximately 30 instant games and four online games. SCEL produces an average of four new games each month in a variety of themes, play styles, and price points of $1-$10 and in a wide range of prize levels. During the past five years, the support the South Carolina Education Lottery has received from players and retailers is responsible for the General Assembly appropriating more than $1.74 billion for educational purposes from 2002 through fiscal year 2008.
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