Shopper listens to stranger’s lottery advice — and wins big Powerball prize in Missouri

A Missouri woman forgot her drink at home before hitting the road, so she stopped at a convenience store to buy a soda.

That forgotten drink led to a big lottery win, according to an Oct. 19 news release from the Missouri Lottery.

While she was at White Oak Station in Battlefield, she said a stranger told her, “you can’t win if you don’t play!”

This inspired her to buy $20 in Powerball tickets for the Oct. 9 drawing, according to the release.

One of her tickets matched four of the white balls and the Powerball, officials said. This qualified her for a $50,000 prize.

“It was just kind of a fluke that I stopped there,” the woman said when claiming her winnings. “ ... I was at the right place at the right time!”

The winning numbers were 16, 34, 46, 55 and 67 with a Powerball of 14, officials said.

Battlefield is part of the Springfield metropolitan area about 150 miles southeast of Kansas City.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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