ORIENT, OH — For decades, John Gardiner dreamed of seeing his name in lights on the Ohio Lottery’s Cash Explosion TV show. After years of entering with no luck, he finally tried a different strategy: entering his mother’s name instead.
That gamble paid off in a big way. When the mother-son duo sat down to watch the broadcast recently, they were stunned to see the name Kathy Harvey flash across the screen as an upcoming contestant. Remarkably, it was the very first ticket submission Gardiner had ever entered on her behalf.
A Last-Minute Change of Heart
When it came time for the TV appearance, Harvey brought her son along to share the spotlight. She originally intended to play a set of numbers based on a different sequence but made a gut-level switch at the podium to 2-3-23.
The numbers held deep family significance: 23 was her mother’s favorite number, 2 represented her two children, and 3 stood for her three grandchildren. The sentimental choice proved lucrative; Harvey uncovered both 2X and 3X bonuses, skyrocketing her total winnings to $46,400.
Sharing the Wealth
After mandatory state and federal taxes, Harvey will take home $33,988. True to her word, she is splitting the windfall with her son, John, as a thank-you for entering her into the draw.
“I had a great time being famous for a day,” Harvey said, adding that she is already buying her own Cash Explosion tickets in hopes of a return trip to the studio. As for the rest of the winnings, she plans to invest in some home landscaping and is considering the purchase of a new vehicle.
The Winning Location
The lucky ticket was purchased at Bee-Gee’s Minit Market located at 5995 Bigger Rd. in Kettering.
Since its inception in 1974, the Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $34 billion to the state’s education system. Residents interested in seeing Harvey’s winning moment can catch her appearance on the April 4, 2026, episode of the show.
