'Life Changing': Teacher Wins $500K On Scratch-Off Sold In Bayville

BERKELEY, NJ — One lucky public school teacher is $500,000 richer thanks to a $10 scratch-off gift given by a parent at the end of the school year.

The teacher received several scratch-offs as gifts, which sat in their car until a recent July day, according to a New Jersey Lottery news release.

“I had a stack of cards as gifts, and I had forgotten I left them there,” the player said while claiming their prize at the New Jersey Lottery office. “One morning, I went out to the car and thought that I’d see if I won any gas money.”

It was a lot more than gas money. After playing two tickets, the teacher got to the $10 The Shore Thing card, and learned they had won the card's first $500,000 top prize.

“It probably wasn’t smart of me (to leave the tickets in the car). I’ve been driving around with my puppy. He could’ve eaten them,” the teacher said.

Since NJ Lottery winners can remain anonymous, the teacher's identity and their school district are unavailable. However, lottery records show that the scratch-off was sold, fittingly for a shore-themed card, at the Sinclair gas station at 670 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville.

“I get them as gifts, but I never imagined. For me this is life changing,“ the player said.