Sweet Home businessman James Ashcraft always watches the lotto numbers roll in at his bar, Chewy’s Pub.
So when the jackpot crept over $60,000 earlier this month, he decided to play.
This time, he’s the one who hit a jackpot of just over $92,000.
Ashcraft has owned Chewy’s Pub, at 1200 12th Ave., for 18 years. He said that every now and then he will play Lottery games with customers or play when the jackpots get large.
“I figure if I spend $60 for the chance to win $60,000, that’s a good bet,” Ashcraft said. “This time it really paid off!”
Ashcraft said he watched Sunday, Aug. 9, as the rolling Keno 8-spot bonus grew to more than $60,000 and decided to take a chance. He purchased $60 worth of tickets over the course of the day, and when he came in for his shift Monday, realized he had won.
“I felt like I had the gold ticket – and I really did!” he said.
Ashcraft had won not only the $25,000 Special Keno prize, but also the rolling 8-spot jackpot of $67,266 for a total of $92,325.
He claimed his prize after making an appointment with the Oregon Lottery. Those who win more than $50,000 have to go to Salem to claim their winnings.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oregon Lottery has temporarily closed the Salem and Wilsonville Lottery offices. If players have a winning ticket up to $50,000, they can fill out a claim form on the Oregon Lottery website, and then mail in the signed ticket and claim form. If they win more than $50,000, they can call the lottery office to make an appointment.
Patrick Johnson from the Oregon lottery said that players should always sign the back of their winning tickets. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings, he suggested.