HYDEN — A routine midweek purchase of a $3 instant-play ticket turned into a significant payday for a Leslie County man when his spin on the Kentucky Lottery’s Soccer Fortune game produced a $15,000 prize.
The winner, identified as Darrell Miller of Hyden, said the big result came on the third spin during that session. A few days earlier, he had also won a smaller $600 prize playing the same game.
"I spent $3 on a spin, and on the third spin I won fifteen grand," Miller said. "It’s more money than I woke up with that day, that’s for sure."
Miller told reporters he shared the news with co-workers and that the win energized the workplace: "Everybody at work knew and was excited for me," he said. He received a check for $10,875 after taxes were withheld and said he plans to save the funds for now.
What the prize numbers mean
Lottery prizes are subject to federal and, where applicable, state tax withholdings. In Miller’s case, the advertised top prize was $15,000, with taxes reducing the payout to the net amount he collected. The net figure reflects standard withholding procedures for prizes at this scale.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Advertised prize | $15,000 |
| Ticket cost | $3 |
| Taxes withheld (approx.) | $4,125 |
| Net payout | $10,875 |
Small, local lottery wins can have outsized impact in rural communities like Hyden, the county seat of Leslie County. While this win is far from a headline-making multimillion-dollar jackpot, it represents a meaningful financial boost for an individual and may ripple through personal spending or savings plans.
- Winner: Darrell Miller of Hyden, Leslie County
- Game: Soccer Fortune instant-play
- Advertised prize: $15,000; net after taxes: $10,875
Players should remember that lottery prizes are taxable and that claiming procedures vary based on prize size. Smaller wins can typically be redeemed at retail locations, while larger prizes often require a visit to a Kentucky Lottery office and completion of claim paperwork.
For Leslie County, the story is a simple reminder of the unpredictable nature of instant-play games and their occasional payoff for players willing to roll the dice on a low-cost ticket.
