Retired firefighter wins big in Connecticut Lottery game

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The ‘V’ on the scratch ticket spelled $500,000.

Patrick Gordiski and his wife were planning a much-needed vacation when the couple decided to buy a few CT Lottery scratch tickets for fun. After a few tries, Patrick played the CT Lottery’s “$500,000 CA$HWORD,” in which players scratch off a crossword-style puzzle to reveal potential prizes.

As Patrick played and revealed more winning letters and words, he said he thought to himself, “Wouldn’t it be nice to get a V?”

He got the V, and as it turned out, that letter would spell another word for Patrick: victory. He had just won the game’s final top prize of $500,000.

The winning ticket was purchased at Byram Smoke Shop on Mill Street in Greenwich.

For selling the winning ticket, Byram Smoke Shop will receive a $5,000 bonus—one of the many benefits of being a CT Lottery retail partner.

Patrick is a regular CT Lottery player and recently retired from the Greenwich Fire Department after 50 years of service. He is also a 9/11 first responder who spent days in New York City assisting in the response at Ground Zero.

The Greenwich couple’s son is also a firefighter with the Greenwich Fire Department.