West Des Moines Man Wins $50,000 Lottery Prize
John Gallardo Jr. Claims Top Prize In '$50,000 Super Crossword' Scratch Game
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CLIVE, Iowa — A West Des Moines man said his $50,000 lottery win came at a great time.
"We're just getting ready to move, so all this money is going to help us with the moving and pay off some bills," John Gallardo Jr., 51, said. "The rest is going into savings and we'll have vacation paid for next year."
Gallardo won the 79th top prize in the Iowa Lottery's "$50,000 Super Crossword" scratch game. He bought his winning ticket at Hy-Vee Gas, 4910 Maple Drive in Pleasant Hill, and scratched it when he got to work.
"I did the app on my phone to scan it to see and I looked and I saw the $50,000. I'm like, 'No! No!'"
Gallardo said he was in disbelief and repeatedly scanned his ticket with the Iowa Lottery mobile app to confirm his big win. Then he made calls to both his girlfriend and his mother, delivering unforgettable wakeup calls early in the morning.
He claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Clive.
"I couldn't believe it," he said. "It was just so neat. I'm pinching myself."
The $50,000 Super Crossword is a $5 scratch game that features 102 top prizes of $50,000 and overall odds of 1 in 3.53. For more information about this game, and the number of prizes still available, visit www.ialottery.com.
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