In the first two months of the new year, Virginia has already seen several winners of million-dollar lottery prizes.
Since the start of 2025, a total of four Virginians have been fortunate enough to win prizes worth a minimum of $1 million. However, it’s worth noting that this count excludes the five individuals who emerged as winners in the New Year’s Millionaire Raffle.
Let’s take a glimpse into the lives and stories of every winner.
Willie Lawson of Blackstone
Blackstone resident Willie Lawson struck gold with a remarkable win of $1 million while playing the thrilling 20X the Money Game scratcher.
Lawson expressed to the Virginia Lottery, “In my little town? No way! This can’t be real.”
While on a service call as a handyman, Lawson purchased the winning ticket from Belmont Express situated at 6021 Belmont Road in Richmond. Upon returning home, he eagerly scratched off the ticket.
He expressed, “It feels surreal. I am still trying to comprehend it.”
When claiming his ticket, Lawson had the choice between receiving the entire $1 million over a span of 30 years or selecting a one-time cash option. Lawson decided to go with the one-time option, which amounted to $625,000 before taxes.
The Virginia Lottery has stated that Lawson is the initial recipient of the 20X the Money Game, with five additional grand prizes still awaiting claim.
Dennis Mastie of Alexandria joins 2025 $1 million lottery winners
Retired individual Dennis Mastie is currently undecided about how he wants to utilize his winnings, but he acknowledges that it is a fortunate predicament to be in.
Mastie secured a $1 million victory after successfully matching five out of the six winning numbers in the Powerball drawing that took place on January 23.
Mastie, an Alexandria resident, purchased his victorious ticket from Giant Food situated at 5870 Kingstowne Boulevard. While he successfully matched all five white balls, he unfortunately did not guess the Powerball number correctly.
“I can’t believe it!” he exclaimed to the Virginia Lottery. “I was completely clueless!”
Mastie’s achievement is incredibly challenging. As per the Virginia Lottery, the chances of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 25, while the odds of matching all six numbers are 1 in 292.2 million, a feat that Mastie came close to accomplishing.
Gregory Smith of Boones Mill
In a manner resembling Mastie, Gregory Smith from Boones Mill emerged victorious in the Mega Millions game, securing a remarkable $1 million. Smith accurately selected the initial five numbers, falling short only on the Mega Ball number.
Out of the entire country, only six people, including Smith, were able to match the first five numbers of the Jan. 3 drawing. Smith’s ticket happened to be the sole winning ticket in Virginia.
Smith bought his winning Mega Millions ticket from Clearbook Mini Mart, located at 5469 Franklin Road in Roanoke.
Another Virginia winner struck gold by purchasing their winning ticket online, although Smith had bought his winning ticket at the Roanoke convenience store. Lotto plays and instant-win games can be accessed and played online too.
Bill Pickens of Chesapeake joins $1 million lottery club
After consistently playing a specific set of Mega Millions numbers for nearly a year, Bill Pickens’ perseverance finally paid off. By purchasing a winning ticket online through the Virginia Lottery, he secured his place among the fortunate $1 million winners.
From the July 22, 2022 drawing, Pickens successfully matched the first five numbers but missed the Mega Ball number.
He informed the lottery authorities of his plan to utilize a portion of his winnings in crafting canes specifically for Purple Heart veterans.
According to the Virginia Lottery, the probability of matching the first five numbers is 1 in 12,607,306, while the probability of matching all six numbers is 1 in 302,575,350.
Your Virginia Lottery dollars go to a good cause
Not only did these four Virginians emerge as winners, but all profits generated from the Virginia lottery are exclusively dedicated to supporting K-12 education within the state.
During the previous fiscal year, a significant contribution of over $779 million from lottery profits was allocated to support Virginia’s K-12 education system, amounting to approximately 10% of the state’s K-12 budget.
Not everyone will become $1 million lottery winners, so remember to gamble responsibly
As March approaches, marking Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it is crucial to emphasize the significance of responsible behavior while purchasing lottery tickets or engaging in any form of gambling.
The Play Responsibility campaign by the Virginia Lottery aims to ensure that residents are well-informed and responsible when it comes to gambling. As per the campaign’s message:
- Be aware and comprehend the probabilities
- Play for entertainment only
- Establish a financial plan and adhere to the designated boundaries.
- Ensure that your life remains well-balanced.
- Familiarize yourself with the indicators of gambling issues.
- View gambling as a source of entertainment rather than a means of income.
To access the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline, dial 888-532-3500. For additional details, please visit the lottery’s official website.
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