Akron man thinks small and turns out, he won big in the Ohio Lottery

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An Akron man won the top prize on a $50 VIP Millions scratch-off ticket.

The winner initially believed he had won $40,000 before learning the prize was $40,000 a year for 25 years.

A Ohio Lottery player from Akron thought he had won big — he had no idea just how big.

Lottery officials say the Akron man, whose name was not released, purchased a $50 VIP Millions scratch-off ticket at a Circle K on East Bath Road in Cuyahoga Falls.

He initially thought he had hit a $40,000 jackpot, lottery officials say, but when the clerk scanned the ticket it turns out he had hit the top prize of $40,000 a year for 25 years.

After choosing the $500,000 cash option, the winner received a check for $360,000 after federal and state taxes.

Lottery officials say the man said he pla