One Orcas Island man heading into Thanksgiving weekend with something incredible to be thankful for

||| FROM XIAMARA GARZA for WASHINGTON LOTTERY |||

Olympia, Wash. – One Orcas Island man is heading into the Thanksgiving holiday this year with something extraordinary to be thankful for – a $1 million Powerball prize.

Last month, John G. stopped by Orcas Island Market in Eastsound to take a look at the jackpot amounts for his favorite lottery games, Powerball and Mega Millions. Typically, he only buys tickets when the jackpots reach a certain level, and on that day, the high Powerball jackpot caught his eye. He purchased a ticket and went home, not knowing he was about to win a life-changing prize.

Days after the drawing, John had forgotten about the ticket. Early one morning he suddenly remembered to check his numbers online, where he saw he had matched five numbers and won the game’s second-tier prize of $1 million. Overwhelmed with excitement and disbelief, he called Washington’s Lottery to confirm his win. After receiving official confirmation, John shared the news with his older sister, who was just as shocked and thrilled.

John celebrated his big win by taking a few of his loved ones out for a special meal. He plans to invest most of his winnings and use the remaining funds on self-care and travel to spend quality time with family.

Powerball is a national lottery game. Each play is $2. Players pick five numbers between one and 69 and one Powerball number between one and 26. Alternatively, players may use Quick Pick by letting the computer select their numbers. With nine winning ball combinations, the more numbers that match those drawn, the more a player will win. 

Who Benefits

Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $5.3 billion to support several important state programs, including providing much-needed funds for the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account (WOPA). In FY23, WOPA received $199.9 million from the Lottery. Of this, $139.1 million helped fund the Washington College Grant, a financial aid program that supported more than 29,000 college students and apprentices across the state last year. Another $2.5 million helped fund the College Bound program to help eligible students attain a college or training degree or credential.

Washington’s Lottery Beneficiary Fact

Washington’s Lottery is proud to be a financial supporter of the Washington Student Achievement Council, which administers state financial aid programs. WSAC leads a variety of initiatives to increase educational opportunities for students, families, and educators across the state, with a particular focus on increasing equity by reaching communities of color and students from low-income families. The $141.6 million investment made in FY23 by the Lottery helps fund the Washington College Grant and College Bound programs, in order to improve access to postsecondary attainment for students across Washington.

About Washington’s Lottery: The state’s Lottery offers players several types of games, including Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Pick 3, Cash POP, Daily Keno and Scratch. For more information, visit www.walottery.com.

Keep it fun. Know your limit. Washington’s Lottery is an advocate for responsible gaming and collaborates with the Evergreen Council for Problem Gambling to provide resources for those in need. More information is available at www.walottery.com/Responsibility.