He thought he won $3,000 in Iowa lottery on his birthday — but he won much more

To celebrate his birthday, Carl Gibbs Jr. decided to buy himself an Iowa Lottery ticket.

While at a Winthrop convenience store, he picked a “$30,000 Crossword” scratch game ticket, according to a news release from the Iowa Lottery.

Gibbs Jr. started scratching his $3 lottery ticket, and he thought he won a $3,000 prize, officials said. But he actually won much more.

“When I first counted them, I counted nine words,” he told lottery officials. “In my head, I’m like, ‘Man, can’t you just give me the 10th word? Just go ahead and give me the whole thing?’ And I re-counted again, and I’m like, ‘I think there are 10!’”

Unsure if he could believe his eyes, the 35-year-old man downloaded the Iowa Lottery mobile app to scan his ticket. That was when he knew he really did win the game’s top $30,000 prize.

He waited for his wife to come home before telling her about his big win, officials said. He plans to use the winnings to pay off debt and save the rest.

“Really, it’s just disbelief,” Gibbs Jr. said when claiming his prize. “‘Is this real? Is this happening?’ That’s probably the main way to describe it.”

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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