Man Drops on the Floor after $1M Lottery Win

Bedford County resident Kenneth “JR” Bilger was completely shocked when he found out that he had won the last of the Triple Red 777 scratch-off tickets he had purchased.

The ticket resulted in a $1,000,000 prize, which the man was still struggling to comprehend when he appeared to pose for the customary photo-op with an outsized check.

The Jackpot Was Too Much to Take In at First 

“It was a trip. This is a lot more money than I am accustomed to,” the man shared his incredulity. The man and his wife, Becky, were present at the Martin General Stores at 533 Main St. in Saxton this Thursday, where they met with lottery officials and claimed the reward. The venue has also received a $5,000 bonus. 

Bilger never won that much money, although he did share that he once scooped a $1,500 payout. The winning ticket was purchased on May 9, along with a few others, and as a good story would have it, the million-dollar-winner was in fact the last ticket he scratched. 

It was not an easy thing – winning that much money, Bilger noted, arguing that he took some time to comprehend what had just happened. 

“I had to check the ticket three or four times. I was shaking and flushed. A guy walking out thought he was going to have to call an ambulance for me,” he recounted. 

Of course, Bilger had to share, and he called his wife first – but she wouldn’t believe him. Bilger’s oldest daughter was with her mother at the time, and she, too, thought that dad was pulling a joke. 

Eventually, Bilger got home and showed his family the tickets, and it was at that point the win started to feel “real,” he noted, turning the $30 scratcher play into a major win. 

The lottery did not say what the mode of Bilger’s claim was and whether he opted for an annuity or scooping the whole (reduced) amount right away.