Katelynne Berland of Yorktown, Virginia, won a $50,000 lottery jackpot on her first try after purchasing a Pick 5 ticket while running errands in mid-April. Her ticket matched the numbers 2-9-4-2-3 in the exact order, giving her top prize. The odds of hitting all five numbers in exact order in the Pick 5 game are 1 in 100,000. The Virginia Lottery offers Pick 5 tickets for either $0.50 or $1, and players can choose between selecting “any order,” “exact order,” or a combination of the two. Berland plans to use her winnings to help pay her sister’s college tuition.
The Virginia Lottery was established in 1987 after Virginians voted in favor of creating a state-operated lottery. Sales of the first tickets began the following year. Since 1999, the profits from the Virginia Lottery have supported K-12 public education in the state, with more than $867 million going toward education in 2023 alone. This funding amounts to about 10% of the commonwealth’s budget for K-12 schools and is distributed to counties throughout Virginia. York County, where Berland lives, received over $5.3 million in lottery funds for K-12 education during the last fiscal year.
In the 2023 fiscal year, the Virginia Lottery had sales of $4.6 billion, with over $3.5 billion distributed to lottery winners and the retailers who sold winning tickets. The funds generated by the Virginia Lottery have a significant impact on public education in the state, helping to support K-12 schools and programs. The Virginia Lottery continues to offer a variety of games and prize structures, with opportunities for players to win prizes ranging from a few dollars to large jackpots. FOX Business reached out to the Virginia Lottery for more information about its games and prize distribution processes.
Pick 5 is drawn twice a day, with drawings taking place at 1:59 p.m. and 11 p.m. Players have the option to select different ways to play, including choosing between “any order” and “exact order,” or a combination of the two. Berland’s ticket matching the numbers in the exact order was a rare occurrence, with the odds of winning the top prize being 1 in 100,000. Despite the low odds, Berland was lucky enough to hit all five numbers in precise order on her first attempt, resulting in her $50,000 win. Her decision to buy a lottery ticket on a whim while out running errands turned out to be a profitable one, as she plans to use her winnings to help support her sister’s college education.
The Virginia Lottery’s contribution to public education in the state has been significant since its inception, with millions of dollars going toward supporting K-12 schools and educational initiatives. The funding generated by the lottery plays a crucial role in supplementing the state’s budget for education, providing essential resources for schools and students across Virginia. The Virginia Lottery’s commitment to supporting education through its profits underscores the importance of investing in the future through initiatives that benefit students and communities. From school funding to college scholarships, the Virginia Lottery’s contributions have a lasting impact on the educational landscape of the state, providing opportunities for students to succeed and thrive.
