An Erie County man switched lottery machines and won $3 million

A 57-year-old Erie County man walked over to a different lottery vending machine because someone was standing at his usual one, and the ticket he bought from it paid $3 million.

Dave Sabol Jr. collected a commemorative check from the Pennsylvania Lottery this week at its Erie office for a top prize on the $30 $3,000,000 Golden Ticket scratch-off. He bought the ticket on August 7 at Country Fair, 76 North Main St. in Union City, a store he visits regularly.

"I usually play the same machine, but somebody was on it, so I just went to the other one," Sabol said. "I scratched it and it said $3 million. I thought, 'Oh my God, this can't be right!'"

He told his wife, Joan, right away. She checked the ticket on the Pennsylvania Lottery app, and Sabol still took it back to Country Fair to have the win confirmed at the counter. The store earns a $10,000 selling bonus, which is how retailers make money on a big win.

Sabol kept the ticket over the weekend while he worked out what to do. He called a friend who is a lawyer, and the friend told him to talk to a financial planner.

He had spent more than 35 years working in a heavy industrial machine shop. After the win he decided to retire. He and Joan plan to build a house and travel around the country.

"I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face," he said.

His was the last $3 million top prize in the game, and the game ended four weeks later

$3,000,000 Golden Ticket went on sale September 14, 2024 and printed five top prizes of $3 million. Sabol's claim took the top prize count to zero. Pennsylvania stopped selling the game on September 4, 2026, 28 days after he bought his ticket.

When we wrote about the sale in August, the state still listed one $3 million prize outstanding, and Sabol was the one to claim that last ticket.

Clearing a top prize before a game closes is the exception. Of the 173 retired Pennsylvania games where we have the counts for, 124 ended with at least one top prize still unclaimed, or 71.7%, above the 59% national rate. 

"Dave's decision to try a different Lottery machine is a great reminder that winning Lottery tickets can turn up anywhere, and it only takes one ticket to win," Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko said.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne said lottery sales fund programs for older residents, including transportation, prescription assistance, senior centers, and meals. Prizes above $5,000 are subject to withholding, and Pennsylvania taxes lottery winnings at 3.07% on top of federal tax. Our lottery tax calculator works out what a $3 million claim leaves.

Sources

Pennsylvania Lottery: A Golden Ticket Moment, Erie County Man Wins $3 Million