Davenport Man’s Joke Comes True: Wins $500,000 Lottery Prize

Luck is a strange phenomenon that can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. For Justin Strother, a flooring installer from Davenport, Iowa, his good fortune came in the form of a lottery win. But not just any win - he won the first of six top prizes of $500,000 available in the Iowa Lottery's new "$500,000 Ca$h" scratch game.

A Predicted Win?

Strother purchased his winning ticket at Food and Gas, 2365 Rockingham Road in Davenport, in the game's first week of sales. He predicted his big win while joking with his coworkers, telling them that he would hit the top prize.

And to everyone's surprise (including his), he did.

A Lucky Day

After scanning the ticket at a self-checker at the store, Strother ran outside to where his wife was waiting in the car. He urged her to "go, go, go, put it in the safe!" Strother couldn't believe his luck and continued to use the Iowa Lottery's mobile app throughout the day to confirm his win.

As with any big win, Strother's mom spread the word about his good luck by failing to follow her own advice. She told everyone, which is how the news of Strother's win became public.

The "$500,000 Ca$h" Game

The "$500,000 Ca$h" game is a $50 scratch game with prizes ranging from $50 up to $500,000. Players try to match numbers in the playing area on tickets to win a prize. The game has overall odds of winning of 1 in 3.09.

A Re-Start Button

For Strother, the win was a re-start button. He plans to buy a three-bedroom house for him, his wife, and their two children, a new pick-up truck, and a camper. The win will also allow them to be debt-free.

In the end, Strother's prediction came true, and his life has taken a positive turn. Who knows, maybe one day you'll be the lucky one. Just remember to, "go, go, go, put it in the safe!"