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Stepdad Wins Powerball Prize, Gives His Stepdaughter 'Good And Bad News'

July 26, 2023

An Arkansas man won big in the lottery and fulfilled what was once a running joke between him and his stepdaughter.

Cally Krisell says her stepdad always plays the lottery with her birthday numbers.

"My stepdad plays the numbers of me and my daughter's birthdates," Krisell told lottery officials. "We always had a running joke that if he won big, he would give me the winning ticket."

On the July 17 drawing, he matched four out of five white balls and the Powerball number. However, since he paid the additional $1 for the Power Play® option, the $50,000 prize was increased to $200,000.

Krisell was at home when she received a surprise visit from her stepdad, stating he had something important to tell her.

Little did she know that their joke had become a reality.

"He stated he had good and bad news," Krisell said. "He gave me the bad news first – I must start paying my own phone bill. The good news – I have money to pay it with, and then he gave me the lottery ticket!"

Krisell recently claimed her lottery prize at the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Claim Center.