COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - A trip to a Columbus gas station ended in a seven-figure payday for one Georgia Lottery player.

The winning $3,000,000 Grant scratcher game was purchased at Marathon Food Mart, located at 5700 Warm Springs Road, according to Georgia Lottery officials.

The winner cashed in on Aug. 31, choosing a lump-sum payment of $1,546,986, lottery officials said.

The big win contributed to a massive surge in state payouts, with the Georgia Lottery reporting that players claimed $32,528,715 in scratch-off game winnings last week alone.

Under Georgia law, lottery proceeds continue to support local education, funding the HOPE Scholarship program and statewide Pre-K initiatives.

Copyright 2026 WTVM. All rights reserved.