Unexpectedly In the Money

It seems like it's pretty rare to win any significant cash on a scratch lottery ticket. Most times, folks win a few bucks, which promptly goes towards buying another ticket. So when a guy not only wins big on a scratch off, but wins because of an accident, it's kind of a big deal.

According to a story on WBALTV.com, a 73-year old Baltimore man recently went to a gas station and tried to purchase a "Nutcracker Cash" scratch ticket, but by mistake, the clerk handed him a "Deal or No Deal" ticket instead. Rather than returning the ticket, the man scratched it off anyway. We're guessing he is thanking his lucky stars that he did: He won $50,000!

Like a Good Samaritan, the winner, whose name wasn't released by Maryland Lottery officials, plans to give some of the money to his family and take his wife on vacation next year. We're thinking that the whole fam is very, very grateful to the store clerk for the error.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.