Three zeros can really make a difference
Olympia, Wash. (August 15, 2022) – A Lynnwood couple recently found out firsthand that three zeros can really make a big difference.
In July, the couple purchased a winning HIT 5 ticket that they thought was worth $360, only to found out it was actually worth $360,000. After buying the ticket at their local Fred Meyer, the husband went in to check if they had won anything. Originally, he read that they had won $360, so he tried to collect his prize at the store. The employee said his prize was too large to cash there and he would have to go to a Lottery office in-person to claim it. Confused, the husband asked why, as it was below the store limit of $600. The employee explained the prize was not $360, but actually $360,000. After seeing his shocked expression, the employee asked, “Do you need a chair?”, to which the husband responded “No, I need to go cash this!” and bolted out the door.
Before coming in to claim the prize at the Lottery’s Everett regional office, the husband first told his wife who was very shocked as well. The two stared at the ticket and couldn’t help but ask “How is this tiny piece of paper worth $360,000?”
Once they received their winnings, the first thing the couple did was write their son and daughter-in-law a check for $10,000, as they are expecting their first child, the winning couple’s first grandchild. With the rest of their winnings, the couple plan to cushion their retirement funds.
HIT 5 is a Washington state lottery game that replaced Quinto in 2007. Each play is $1. Players pick five numbers between 1 and 42. Alternatively, players may use Quick Pick by letting the computer select their numbers. With four winning ball combinations, the more numbers that match those drawn, the more a player will win.
Making a Difference in Washington State
Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $4.5 billion to support several important state programs, including providing much-needed funds for the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account (WOPA). In FY21, WOPA received $185.7 million from the Lottery, enough to pay college tuition for more than 18,000 Washington residents. It also provided approximately 25% of the annual budget for the state’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, which provides critical services to more than 15,000 children at 440 locations across Washington.
Washington’s Lottery Beneficiary Fact – April 2022
Washington’s Lottery is very proud to be a financial supporter of the state’s Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP). The $40 million annual investment the lottery makes in ECEAP has lasting effects. Children who participate in ECEAP are more likely to be kindergarten-ready than non-participants, and those who participate five or more hours per day are especially prepared in reading and math.* Children in state-funded pre-K programs like ECEAP see long-lasting positive effects, including increased grade progression, high school graduation and college enrollment.**
About Washington’s Lottery: The state’s Lottery offers consumers several types of games, including Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Pick 3, Daily Keno and Scratch. For more information, visit www.walottery.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @walottery.
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.
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Press Contacts
Dan Miller (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: dan.miller@curatorpr.com
Xiamara Garza (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: xiamara.garza@curatorpr.com
* Early Learning Feedback Report. https://erdc.wa.gov/data-dashboards/early-learning-feedback-report-0
** Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood. (n.d.). Boston universal pre-K. Retrieved June 9, 2021, from https://www.bpsearlylearning.org/boston-upk