NEW HAMPTON, IA – A local electrician is experiencing a whirlwind of emotions after a half-million-dollar lottery win followed a period of deep personal loss.
Charles Stanton, a New Hampton resident, claimed a $500,000 top prize on April 23, 2026, after playing the “500X” scratch game. The significant win came at an incredibly poignant time for Stanton—just two days after the death of his father.
Stanton was traveling when he decided to stop and purchase the ticket. Upon realizing he had won the $500,000 prize, the New Hampton man felt the timing was more than just a coincidence.
“It was his way of telling me everything’s going to be OK,” Stanton said, describing the win as a final nod of reassurance from his father.
Showing a commitment to his family, Stanton chose to sit on the life-changing news for nine days. He focused on his family’s needs and honoring his father’s memory before traveling to lottery headquarters to officially claim the windfall.
Stanton joins a growing list of Northern Iowa residents who have found success with the state’s scratch-off games this year. Plans for the winnings were not immediately disclosed as Stanton continues to focus on his family during this transitional time.
The Iowa Lottery offers a variety of scratch and lotto games with proceeds benefiting the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund and the state’s General Fund.
(TOP PHOTO via Iowa Lottery)