Columbia, SC, September 12, 2025
News Summary
A woman from Columbia has turned her luck around after winning a $1 million lottery jackpot. Originally, she almost left her second scratch-off ticket at the store but returned to buy it, leading to her incredible win. Her decision highlights how a small change can lead to life-altering outcomes.
Columbia Woman Wins $1 Million Lottery Jackpot After Second-Guessing Her Ticket Purchase
Columbia, SC — A woman from Columbia has become a million-dollar winner after a series of fortunate decisions at a local convenience store. Her story highlights how a simple choice and a bit of luck can change a person’s financial future.
Initial Purchase and Regret
The incident occurred at J and S Food Mart on Forest Drive. The woman was initially planning to buy two scratch-off tickets from the store’s selection. After deliberating, she decided to only purchase one of the tickets and left the second one behind. Her decision was based on her budget at the time.
Later that day, upon returning home and checking her purchased ticket, she discovered it was not a winner. This led her to regret her decision of leaving the other ticket behind, especially after hearing about big lottery jackpots elsewhere.
The Return and Discovery of the Big Win
Motivated by her remorse, the woman returned to J and S Food Mart to buy the second scratch-off ticket she initially had set aside. The second ticket was part of the same game, called Million Dollar Mania.
Upon scratching the ticket, she realized she had won the game’s grand prize of $1 million. To ensure she wasn’t misreading the ticket, she used her glasses to verify the amount. The bright numbers confirmed her incredible luck.
Odds and Lottery Details
The odds of winning the Million Dollar Mania game are approximately 1,530,000-to-1, making her win statistically very rare. Despite these long odds, her decision proved to be life-changing.
South Carolina lotteries permit winners to remain anonymous, which the woman chose to do in this case. She prefers to keep her identity undisclosed to maintain privacy.
Using the Winnings and Remaining Prizes
The woman has stated her plans include paying off debts and saving the rest of her winnings for future needs. Her prudent approach reflects many recent big jackpot wins in South Carolina, where winners often prioritize financial stability.
Meanwhile, the Million Dollar Mania game still has two unclaimed top prizes out of four. J and S Food Mart received a commission of $10,000 for selling the winning ticket, a standard reward for lottery retailers selling winning tickets of this magnitude.
Context of Lottery Wins in South Carolina
This recent victory adds to a series of significant lottery wins in South Carolina, including recent Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots. The state is among 11 in the country that allow winners to stay anonymous, further encouraging players to participate without worry of public exposure.
Overall, the story underscores how a small change in a purchase decision—coupled with luck—can lead to extraordinary results, especially in the context of South Carolina’s evolving lottery scene.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Local Woman Wins $1 Million Jackpot with Scratch-Off Ticket
Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: South Carolina Lottery Results
- Wikipedia: Lottery
- Live 5 News: Multiple Winning Lottery Tickets Sold in SC
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lucky Number
- WIS TV: 100K Powerball Ticket Sold in Columbia
- Google Search: South Carolina Lottery
- ABC Columbia: Big Lottery Winners in SC
- Google News: South Carolina Lottery News
- The State: South Carolina Lottery Winners Report
Author: STAFF HERE FLORENCE WRITER
FLORENCE STAFF WRITER The FLORENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREFlorence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Florence, Florence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Florence Festival of Lights, Pee Dee Pride, and agricultural expos at the Florence Center. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Florence Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pee Dee Area Council of Governments, plus leading businesses in healthcare and retail that power the local economy such as McLeod Health and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharleston.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGreenville.com, and HEREHiltonHead.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
