What started as a quick stop for a Red Bull turned into a heart racing moment for a Glasgow couple, James and Tammy Milby, who recently claimed a jackpot playing the Kentucky Lottery’s $20 Big Money Doubler! Fast Play game.
James, a longtime truck driver, says he’s played Scratch-offs for years but only switched to Fast Play about eight or nine months ago after taking some good advice from his grandson.
“My grandson was watching me and he told me, ‘Papaw, it’s just like a Scratch-off, only you don’t scratch!’” James laughed. “So, I started trying them instead of Scratch-offs. I’d been watching that game and figured it was bound to be hit some time or another.”
Fast Play is a series of games with instant cash prizes and a rolling jackpot. Players have a chance to win a percentage of the progressive jackpot with the participating Fast Play games or a chance to win other instant prizes with each ticket. The jackpots start at $10,000.
On the morning of his big win, James and Tammy were working in the yard when he decided to run to South Green Market on South Green Street in Glasgow for a drink. With $30 in change, he decided to try his luck. That’s when everything changed.
“I scanned it and thought, ‘What in the world, something ain’t right.’” he said. “I hollered for my buddy who works at the store, and he said, ‘I knew it! Your time was coming!’”
James rushed home to show his wife, who admits she thought something was wrong at first. “He was just a shaking,” she said. “Then he kept saying, ‘No, it’s good! It’s good!’”
“I made him take me back to the store. I’ve got to see it for myself,” she said.
“I dinged it up on the machine and took a picture,” James said. “I knew she’d never believe me!”
It was that moment they felt confident he had won the $551,151 Fast Play jackpot.
The win also included an additional bonus feature that adds an additional $250,000 to the 100% won on the advertised jackpot – $301,151. This is only the second time a Kentucky Lottery player has taken home the $250,000 additional bonus on a Fast Play game.
With their prize, the Milby’s plan to invest, pay off some bills, and move a little slower in life. “I’m a family man,” James said. “I just want to improve my family’s life. And whatever the good Lord puts on my heart to do, I’ll do.”
The couple kept the news quiet at first, waiting to make sure everything was real – even dodging questions from their children, who knew something was up based on their parents’ unusual schedules. The couple planned to tell their children after leaving the Kentucky Lottery with $399,584.47 after taxes.
“It’ll be fun to finally tell them,” Tammy said.
Despite the excitement, James says not much will change. “I’m still me,” he smiled. “But this blessing sure came at a good time.”
