Connecticut Player Scores $250,000 Scratch-Off Jackpot in Hamden

A lucky Connecticut resident is celebrating a huge $250,000 lottery win after claiming the top prize from a scratch-off ticket purchased in Hamden.

The winning ticket came from Smoker’s Discount World on Dixwell Avenue and was part of the popular $250,000 Ca$hword instant game. According to the Connecticut Lottery, it was the largest prize claimed in the state since the beginning of June.

A Rare and Exciting Win

• Top Prize: $250,000
• Ticket Cost: $20
• Odds of Winning the Top Prize: 1 in 1.5 million

That makes the win especially impressive, considering how difficult it is to land the game's biggest reward.

How the Game Works

Ca$hword is an instant-win scratch-off game where players reveal 20 letters and try to match them with hidden words across three separate puzzles on the ticket. Any winning combinations are revealed immediately after scratching.

The version of the game that produced the winning ticket officially ended on June 15, and a new second edition launched the following Wednesday.

While Ca$hword games come in different versions with top prizes ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, this fortunate player managed to hit the highest prize available in the $250,000 edition.

For one Hamden resident, a routine lottery purchase turned into a life-changing payday.