Columbia, September 12, 2025
News Summary
A Midlands woman made headlines after winning a $1 million jackpot from a scratch-off lottery ticket at J and S Food Mart in Columbia. Initially intending to buy two tickets, she ultimately decided to purchase just one. After it turned out to be a losing ticket, she returned to buy a second, which won her the grand prize in the Million Dollar Mania game. With plans to pay off debts and save, her win highlights the local impact of lottery success.
Columbia – A Midlands woman made headlines after winning a $1 million jackpot from a scratch-off lottery ticket, a fortunate twist that came after a moment of indecision at a local food mart.
The incident occurred at J and S Food Mart located on Forest Drive in Columbia. Initially, the woman intended to purchase two scratch-off tickets priced at $10 each. However, she ultimately decided to put one ticket back on the shelf. After her initial purchase turned out to be a losing ticket, she regretted her decision to leave the second ticket behind.
Realizing her mistake, the woman returned to the store to buy the second ticket she had previously dismissed. To her astonishment, this ticket won the grand prize of $1 million in the Million Dollar Mania game, which had odds stacked against players at 1,530,000-to-1. Confirming her win, she donned her glasses to double-check the ticket, ensuring she wasn’t misreading the results.
The woman’s win is not just a personal success but also a notable event in the South Carolina lottery landscape. The state is one of only 11 states that permit lottery winners to remain anonymous, giving the woman the option to keep her identity private. Plans for her winnings include paying off existing debts and saving the remainder for future needs.
She is one of the few lucky winners in the recent surge of big lottery wins in South Carolina. The Million Dollar Mania game, in which she won, still has two out of four top prizes remaining unclaimed, suggesting that other players may still have the opportunity for substantial wins. Due to her ticket purchase at J and S Food Mart, the store will receive a commission of $10,000, reinforcing the local impact of such lottery wins.
The excitement surrounding lottery winnings is part of a broader trend in recent South Carolina lottery results, where substantial amounts have been awarded in both Powerball and Mega Millions games. These high-stakes games have drawn attention from players across the state, with many hoping to replicate the woman’s luck and secure life-altering financial gains.
In summary, a single decision regarding scratch-off tickets led to a life-changing moment for a Midlands woman in Columbia. With a $1 million jackpot in hand and plans in motion to achieve financial security, her story highlights not only the potential fortune hidden within lottery games but also the ripple effect on the local community.
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HERE Resources
Timmonsville Resident Close to Winning Nearly $500 Million Powerball Jackpot
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 MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
