Downtown Charleston couple wins $500,000 recently in scratch off lottery

A couple won their money back and then some after picking up a drink and scratch-off ticket from a convenience store on East Bay Street.

South Carolina Education Lottery officials say that when the woman told her husband they had a winner, he couldn't believe it and told her to keep scratching.

“It still feels surreal,” the wife told lottery officials one month after cashing in the $500,000 prize. The couple says they plan to put the money toward their retirement. 

The odds of winning $500,000 in the $500,000 Multiplier Money game are 1 in 660,000. Two more top prizes remain on the ticket. Circle K received $5,000 for selling the claimed ticket.

The winner has only 180 days from the day of the lottery draw to claim the winning prize money, lottery officials said.