Iowa Retiree Hits $50K on Scratch-Off While Enjoying Sunny Afternoon

Michael Belk from Iowa got the surprise of a lifetime while enjoying a sunny afternoon with his wife. The couple was sitting outside at their local bar’s patio, casually scratching lottery tickets, when Michael thought he’d won $25—until he checked the Iowa Lottery app.

“I looked and it said $50,000,” Belk recalled. “I thought, ‘Oh, I must have missed a few letters!’ She couldn’t believe it. I didn’t either at first, but the app’s never lied before, so I knew it was real.”

The retired couple had just hit the $50,000 prize in the Super Crossword scratch game, one of the game’s 90 top prizes. Both were stunned but thrilled by the unexpected windfall.

For now, they plan to keep it simple. “We don’t have any big-ticket plans,” Belk said. “We’re both retired, so we’re just going to use it to enjoy retirement.”

McCausland, where the couple lives, is about 75 miles east of Cedar Rapids.

While many people can enjoy games of chance responsibly, gambling can be harmful for some. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, help is available through the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or the National Council on Problem Gambling.