Free ticket unexpectedly leads to major cashpot win
Olympia, WA (September 30, 2026) – For one Spanaway man, a free HIT 5 ticket became worth much more than another chance to play.
The winner, who typically buys lottery tickets every other week, had purchased his usual mix of games, including HIT 5. One of those tickets matched two white balls, which he redeemed for a free HIT 5 ticket for the September 19 drawing.
Days later, the winner remember he still had the free ticket and decided to check it while he was at work. When he scanned it using the Washington's Lottery's app, it said he had won a large prize. He thought the app had to be wrong, so he tried scanning the ticket several more times, but the result stayed the same. That’s when he realized what he was seeing was correct: that free play was one of two winning tickets to split the game's $550,000 cashpot, earning him a $275,000 prize.
The winner immediately called his wife to tell her the news. She didn't believe him at first either, but once she realized he wasn’t joking, she started crying.
The winner plans to pay off debt and invest for the future. He also hopes to use some of his winnings for small acts of kindness whenever he can.
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. Players can find Washington’s Lottery retail locations here.
Who Benefits
Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $5.7 billion to support several important state programs. The Lottery’s primary beneficiary is the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account (WOPA), which provides much-needed funding for programs including early childhood education, the WA Grant and College Bound program, Washington Award for Vocational Excellence, and more. These programs help provide critical services and support to thousands of Washington residents each year and help improve their lives.
Beneficiary Fact
Washington’s Lottery is proud to be a financial supporter of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), 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 Lottery also proudly supports the state’s Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP), a state-funded pre-K program that helps children become kindergarten-ready by building early skills in reading, math and science. The program works closely with parents to support their children’s health and education.
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, Cash POP, 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-Urbieta (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: xiamara.garza@curatorpr.com