2 Jackpot Wins Totaling $200K Awarded To 2 Central Oregon Men

SALEM, OR — Two weeks ago, two Central Oregon residents over two days won big Oregon Lottery jackpots with Scratch-its. Both men, who do not know each other, couldn't believe their luck.

Carl Osterkamp of Bend and Jeremy Gilbertson of Redmond both won $100,000 prizes from $10 Extreme Cash Scratch-its. Osterkamp's win came from a scratch-it he bought at the US Market #150 in Bend Jan. 31, while Gilbertson's win came from the scratch-it he purchased Feb.1 at a Redmond Chevron gas station.

"I just about dropped to my knees when it came up as $100,000," Osterkamp told Oregon Lottery officials when he picked up his check in Salem. "My girlfriend's sister, who was with me, wouldn't believe me."

Osterkamp had never bought a $10 Scratch-it before, he said, marveling at his first timer's luck. He reportedly plans to use his prize to move into a new home with his girlfriend.

A day later, Gilbertson scratched his $10 ticket to also find a $100,000 prize.

"I scratched the ticket, I looked at this, and I thought, 'This just doesn't happen to me,'" he told lottery officials. "All I could say was ahhhhh. I won $100,000 and I couldn't believe it."

Gilbertson also said he doesn't typically buy $10 Scratch-its, though he admitted this wasn't his first one. Typically playing $2 or $3 Scratch-its, Gilbertson said he'll only buy larger value tickets with the winnings from the smaller value Scratch-its.

Looking forward to his second wedding anniversary, Gilbertson said he plans to take his wife on a trip and to pay some bills.

According to Oregon Lottery officials, Bend and Redmond-area retailers sold $55,000 worth of winning Scratch-its that each awarded more than $600 in 2017. In the first month and a half of 2018, Central Oregon retailers have reportedly sold more than $200,000 in winning tickets — thanks in large part to Osterkamp and Gilbertson's wins.

For more information on the Oregon Lottery games, including where the revenue goes and how it's invested back into Oregon communities, visit oregonlottery.org.

Image via Oregon Lottery