Kansas Lottery
Jesus Alvarez of Hays typically only buys Kansas Lottery tickets on the weekend, but a last-second decision to purchase a couple $2 Double Bonus Crossword tickets during the week ended up paying off with a $20,000 top prize win.
“I typically only buy tickets on Fridays,” said Alvarez. “I don’t really remember why I decided to buy some on a week night, but I’m definitely glad I did.”
Alvarez came home from work one night last week and put his new tickets on the kitchen table. He then went outside to hang out with some friends and never got back to playing the games that evening.
“I was asleep the next morning when I heard my wife yell ‘Woohoo’ from the kitchen,” Alvarez said. “She came and got me and said ‘Did you know that you won a big prize?’ We were so excited that we went down to the store to scan the ticket and it said to redeem in Topeka, so we called the Lottery that morning.”
For the Alvarez family, the win couldn’t have come at a better time, and it could be a stepping stone to a new career for Jesus.
“I work a full-time job already, and I have started a side business doing some roof work on the weekends. We have really been needing a truck to haul our trailer and equipment around, and this puts us way ahead of schedule for getting a new work vehicle,” Alvarez said excitedly.
Aside from a new work vehicle, Jesus says the Alvarez family is due a big vacation very soon. “I think my family and I will be taking a trip together now as well, probably to Cancun. It’s going to be so much fun, we’re very excited.”
The winning ticket was sold at Main Street Express at 1601 Main Street in Hays. There are still five top prizes left in the $2 Double Bonus Crossword instant scratch game, as well as thousands in other cash prizes.