Suffolk Resident Wins $1 Million in Mega Millions Draw

Delores Smith of Suffolk typically reserves her Mega Millions entries when the stakes are notably high. This strategy paid off on March 19, when she won $1 million after the jackpot soared to an estimated $893 million. That day, Smith had her husband purchase a ticket from Joe’s Kwik Mart at 1555 Holland Road in Suffolk, which was a million-dollar decision.

Though the ticket didn’t clinch the jackpot, it matched the first five numbers—24, 46, 49, 62, and 66—making it the sole winner in Virginia and one of only four across the U.S. to do so. The numbers were chosen via Easy Pick and randomly generated by a computer.

“It’s unbelievable!” exclaimed Smith upon claiming her prize. She noted the rarity of her win, with the odds of matching the first five numbers being 1 in 12,607,306.

Mega Millions, which conducts draws on Tuesday and Friday nights, sees a fraction of its proceeds benefit K-12 education in Virginia. Smith’s hometown of Suffolk benefited from over $10.3 million in lottery funds last fiscal year. The Virginia Lottery contributed over $867 million to the state’s K-12 education budget in Fiscal Year 2023, accounting for about 10% of the overall funding.

For more details on the distribution of lottery proceeds or to engage in lottery games online, residents can visit the Virginia Lottery’s official website or connect via their social platforms.