The lucky winner, 54-year-old Donald Eller Jr. of Cambria County, purchased the winning ticket at BIGDOGZ GRILL, where he has worked as a cook for more than three years. He said he was surprised when he saw he won $1 million after scratching the ticket during his break at work.

“I bought three tickets in a row and won smaller amounts,” said Eller. “I decided to test my luck and bought two more of the same ticket after that and the last one was the million-dollar winner. I couldn’t believe it. I was shaking.”

He said he immediately shared the news about the prize with his boss, Mike, and co-workers.
“Mike let me clock out of work early that day and drove me to the Lottery’s Clearfield office,” he said. “I couldn’t think straight after that. I had to take a step back and take a break.”

Eller, who has worked as a cook for more than 30 years, said he wants to work another five years before retiring but plans to put his prize money to good use in the meantime.

“My older sister lives with me and has had some health problems,” said Eller. “We rent in downtown Johnstown, so I’m going to buy us a home and a new car. I told her, ‘We need to get out of here!’”

“We always say it only takes one ticket to win big. Congratulations to our newest millionaire, Donald, on his life-changing prize,” said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “It’s important to remember that thanks to players like Donald, and our retailer partners like BIGDOGZ GRILL, the Pennsylvania Lottery is able to continue to fulfill its mission of responsibly generating funds for programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians.”

The PA Lottery Scratch-Off, Big Money Millionaire, went on sale on August 15, 2023, and is a $20 game that offers top prizes of $1 million.

Scratch-Offs are distributed at random, meaning the Pennsylvania Lottery and its retailers do not know where winning tickets will be sold. The Lottery learns where winning tickets are sold only after a prize has been claimed.

To determine if they have won a prize, players can review the ticket, scan it at a Lottery retailer, or use the Ticket Checker feature on the Lottery’s Official App. Winners should immediately sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at 1-800-692-7481 and file a claim at the nearest Lottery office.

Prizes must be claimed, and tickets validated before winners can be identified. Scratch-Off prizes expire one year from the game's end-sale date posted at palottery.com. All lottery prizes more than $5,000 are subject to applicable withholding. Visit palottery.com to review rules, chances of winning and learn how to play our traditional and online games.

Newest Scratch-Offs >
 

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About Us: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed more than $35.1 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals. The Pennsylvania Lottery operates as a bureau within the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Visit the Winners and Benefits pages at palottery.com to review how much money each county receives in Lottery prizes and funding to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.

Visit palottery.com for winning numbers, rules, chances of winning, and to join the VIP Players Club to play online or enter for second chances to win. Install our Official App, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @PALottery. Use the hashtag #palottery to share your messages with us.