Troutdale Man Wins $54,000 After A Series Of Fortunate Mistakes

TROUTDALE, OR — Several unintentional actions and accidents netted Donald Devore nearly $55,000 in Oregon Lottery winnings earlier this week.

Devore, a Troutdale resident, told Oregon Lottery officials in Salem that it was a series of slip-ups that ultimately paid big dividends Feb. 5, and it all began when he arrived at the wrong location for someone else's birthday party.

A friend turning 60 years old Monday invited a group that included Devore to Chu's Eatery in Portland to celebrate, he told officials. Only, Chu's wasn't the right place and just four people showed up.

While they waited — unaware they weren't where they were supposed to be — they decided to play Keno, Devore said.

"We have a friend who is always telling us to play Keno 8-spot," he said, adding, "I'm glad we did."

Devore's path to cash destiny continued when he accidentally filled out his Keno 8-spot game ticket incorrectly, selecting just six numbers. Throwing away his first attempt and starting over, Devore filled out another slip.

"I used our birthdays. I like '56 and '57 Chevys, so I used those numbers, and then two other numbers at random," he told lottery officials. "When the numbers came up, I thought I had won $4,700, which was the 8-spot bonus."

But another player pointed out he'd won the 8-spot bonus in addition to $25,000 — and the hits didn't end there.

"Then I realized I had played for $2, so I had doubled my base prize to $50,000," he said. "It was ridiculous … Of course we bought everyone a round of drinks at the party, too."

Devore told officials he wants to take his friends on a trip to Bora Bora, but his wife Kelly said she'd rather have some new carpet installed.

Image via Oregon Lottery