Barry Dyngles jackpot still growing after Wednesday loss

By BRANDON KLEIN

bklein@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

After playing for months, Jennifer Melago said she was “at a loss for words” when her name was drawn for the chance to win the more than $300,000 jackpot.

But the McDonald resident lost when she selected the Ace of Spades instead of the Queen of Hearts, which were among the 11 remaining spots of 54-card board, at Barry Dyngles Pub on Raccoon Road Wednesday evening.

“I’m just happy to have my name selected,” she said.

Melago said she went half on the tickets with her 13 co-workers at Salvatore’s Italian Grill. She was the only one to make an appearance while the rest were working. The ticket selected from a huge trash can, containing more than 100,000 tickets, was labeled “Jen Boom,” a combination of her name and a co-worker whose nickname was Boom.

Melago said she looks forward to competing next week with the jackpot to increase.

Doug Duganne, the restaurant’s general manager, said 114,911 tickets were sold for the chance to win $329,469.

Thousands came out to the restaurant trying the food and beverages while listening to old-school and contemporary music.

“I will be back even if I don’t win,” Michelle Housel of Boardman said. “The food here is really good.”

Housel and her friends arrived with camp chairs to sit outside. They came out last week when there weren’t as many tables or seating outside as there was Wednesday night.

“We know how to roll,” said one of Housel’s friends, who did not want her name in the paper.

The restaurant became more crowded, with little elbow room for the line to get tickets.

Randy Boyer and Mickey Tankovich, both from Mentor, along with six other people, purchased 400 tickets. They used stamps to place their name and the number, which represents the spot on the card board.

“I’m living it up this week,” Tankovich said.

Boyer said he had no specific plans for the money, besides retirement.

The weekly jackpot started last October and has more than doubled the business, Duganne said.

“It’s just amazing for what it’s done for our business,” he said.

And players could see the jackpot increase to about $450,000 next week, he added.

The chance to win the jackpot is legal under state law, as long the payout is 100 percent to players, with no cut to the business or individuals conducting the pool, said Dan Tierney, spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Office.

Tierney further said that a Vindicator reporter’s inquiry Wednesday afternoon was “the first media inquirey we’ve ever gotten” on a game like the Queen of Hearts at Barry Dyngles.

“It’s certainly the first time we’ve heard of something like this where you are talking about a six-figure payout for a drawing of this type,” Tierney said of the expected jackpot at the Austintown establishment.

People can buy one ticket for $1 and write the number they think will be selected, a phone number to reach them and their name. If the person is not there, and the Queen of Hearts is pulled, that person would receive half the jackpot.

There are now 10 spots remaining on the card board. Melago selected No. 28 as the 11th slot in the hopes that she would win. Although that did not happen, Melago wil receive a $20 gift card to the restaurant.

Charlotte Cayavec of Niles had the honor of wiping Melgao’s number from a white board at the entrance of the restaurant that showcased the available numbers to select. She spent $20 worth of the tickets that night but said the experience was awesome.

“Anybody has a chance,” she said.

Staff writer Robert Connelly contribtued to this report.