Shirley Temple Craving Turns Into $114K Jackpot

A simple craving for a Shirley Temple 7Up turned into a six-figure surprise for a Gastonia man. Albert Clinton Jr. stopped by the S’Mart on Nov. 9 to grab the fruity, bright-red mocktail—and walked out with something a whole lot sweeter.

Before he knew it, Clinton added a $2 Bingo Bucks Fast Play ticket to his purchase. That tiny add-on ended up landing him a bubbly $114,614 jackpot. Because Fast Play jackpots are progressive, his $2 ticket earned him 20% of the $573,070 prize pool.

When he claimed his winnings at lottery headquarters on Nov. 13, he took home $82,236 after taxes. Clinton called the moment “unreal” and says his winnings will help cover bills and make Christmas extra special for his family.

A few standout points:

• Fast Play jackpots grow with every ticket sold

• A $2 ticket = 20% of the jackpot

• Odds of hitting that share: 1 in 320,000

And yes—if you’re wondering—Shirley Temple 7Up really is that good. As one review puts it: fruity, refreshing, and a gorgeous pop of red over ice.