A lifelong resident of Perry County who regularly plays the Hoosier Lottery claimed the $42.5 million Hoosier Lotto® jackpot as “Free Ticket, LLC.” 

The man had won a free Hoosier Lotto ticket after matching two out of six numbers on a previous drawing. He redeemed the free ticket at On the Fly #822 in Tell City for the March 12 drawing, choosing a Quick Pick for his numbers.

After the drawing, the winner scanned his ticket while at the grocery store. The screen displayed a message stating he would need to contact the Hoosier Lottery to claim his prize. When he checked his numbers, he could not believe he really had matched all six numbers and won the $42.5 million jackpot! Once he got to work, he asked a coworker to check his ticket for him. After examining the ticket and checking the winning numbers, his coworker scanned it using the Hoosier Lottery app. 

“You won!” the coworker exclaimed.

“I thought I was going to have a heart attack,” the winner said. “I still cannot believe it. I keep thinking any day I might wake up and find out it’s a dream.”

He checked and rechecked the numbers several times and even had a family member print the winning numbers from a convenience store terminal.

The winner decided to retire early from his job as a truck driver shortly after confirming the winning ticket. He looks forward to being able to spend more time on his favorite activities, including watching Indiana University and Tell City High School basketball and riding his motorcycle. 

While the winner plans to continue living a simple life, he has one big purchase in mind: men’s basketball season tickets to watch his beloved IU Hoosiers! 

Hoosier Lotto^® Overall Odds 1 in 6