Man, 63, wins two $10 million scratch off prizes from same store then vanishes without tipping
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Brooklyn resident Wayne Murray, 63, has hit the jackpot not once, but twice, winning a total of $20 million from scratch-off lottery tickets.
He won both from the same store within 15 months of each other.
However, the gas station he bought from is disappointed.
That’s because Murray hasn't shared any of his newfound wealth with the store where he bought the tickets, according to the store's manager.
And it has started similar opinions about the practice of tipping for lottery winners.
The New York Post reported that winner Wayne Murray's double $10 million win unfolded at H&A Gas & Convenience on Avenue H in Flatbush.
It was Murray's second win on Tuesday from the New York Lottery’s 200X scratch-off game, after a previous win in August 2022 from the Black Titanium game.
He bought both tickets from the same store, and they haven’t seen him since.
And despite his massive wins, Murray hasn't tipped the staff after either victory, shared Asim, the store's manager.
Asim, who hoped for a small share of the winnings, expressed his disappointment, especially since the New York Lottery does not offer bonuses to retailers for selling winning tickets to smaller lottery games.
This is in stark contrast to Mega Millions or Powerball, where retailers receive a $10,000 bonus for selling winning tickets.
Stores like H&A miss out on such incentives for other games.
So any share of Murray's millions for H&A relies solely on his generosity.
What they said in the comments
A large number of the 400-plus comments for the NY Post article said that the man had no obligation to tip for just buying a lottery ticket.
Their point is that tipping is usually for outstanding service, and selling a ticket doesn’t fall into that category.
Others are questioning the whole idea of tipping often. They think that the expectation to tip for many services, including selling a lottery ticket, might be too much.
There are comparisons being made to other types of jobs where employees don't usually get tips. Commenters are wondering why the situation should be different for someone selling lottery tickets.
The discussion also touches on the store’s profits from selling lottery tickets.
Some argue that since the store makes money from every ticket they sell, whether it wins or loses, it seems unnecessary for them to expect a tip from the winner.
However, a few people think giving a tip would have been a generous act.
They believe while it’s not required, it could have been a nice gesture, depending on what the winner wanted to do.
The issue of entitlement also comes up. Many believe that the store feeling entitled to a tip shows a bit too much expectation, especially since winning the lottery is based on luck.
Will the winner return?
Asim described Murray as "a very nice guy" and remains hopeful of a future gesture. "He might come back… so I am hopeful," he said on Saturday.
Following Murray's second win, the store has gained local fame. "The store gets famous," Asim remarked, noting an increase in customers and curiosity about the 'lucky store.'
For both his lottery wins, Murray opted for the lump sum payout, receiving $6 million each time after taxes. The cost of playing each game was $30.
Since his latest win, Murray has not been seen at the store, perhaps busy enjoying his wealth, speculated Asim.
Murray, who has attempted to avoid public attention, told The Post, "Some of us just like to be discreet."
H&A store clerk Hassan Nabil described Murray as a regular customer whose behavior hasn't changed since his first win.
Nabil believes Murray continues to play the lottery for the enjoyment it brings him. "He’s a super regular guy," Nabil said.
The chances of winning the 200X scratch-off game are 1 in 3.64 million, and for the Black Titanium game, it's 1 in 3.53 million.
The odds of winning both lottery games are approximately 1 in 12.85 billion.
