Mason City woman wins $50,000 prize on scratch ticket From boyfriend

CLIVE, Iowa — A Mason City woman has won a $50,000 lottery prize on a ticket purchased for her by her boyfriend.

Laura Swai, 36, won the third top prize in the Iowa Lottery’s “5 Spot” scratch game. Her boyfriend, Robert Greer, purchased the winning ticket at Hy-Vee Gas, 1503 Fourth St. SE in Mason City.

“I actually sent my boyfriend in to get some scratch tickets and some donuts,” Swai said with a laugh. “Then, I scratched it at his house and it was the first line that I scratched off.”

Swai, who works at Kraft Heinz in Mason City, said she was in disbelief when she revealed her prize amount.

“I just started jumping up and down and screaming,” she said. “I couldn’t calm down all day yesterday.”

Swai claimed her prize on Monday at the lottery’s regional office in Mason City. She said she plans to use part of her winnings to pay bills and save the rest.

The 5 Spot scratch game features eight top prizes of $50,000 and overall odds of 1 in 3.44.