‘I was stunned.' 9 lottery players try their luck — and win big prizes
Annette Smith turned a routine coffee stop into a $50,000 Pick 5 win by playing her favorite birthday numbers. A grandpa in Bel Air had to double-check his $8 Powerball ticket before believing he scored $50,000. Meanwhile, a Washington casino guest took a different gamble, buying a Lotto ticket and winning a massive $1.3 million jackpot.
Read the stories below.
A lottery player hit the jackpot on a game bought at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Auburn, Washington. Getty Images/iStockphoto
NO. 1: CASINO PLAYER WINS $1.3 MILLION JACKPOT IN WASHINGTON — BUT NOT THE WAY YOU THINK
The lucky lottery player has 180 days to claim their prize. | Published June 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner
Lottery file photo By TIM DOMINICK
NO. 2: SC MAN DIDN'T BELIEVE HE WON LOTTERY GAME'S GRAND PRIZE UNTIL THE CHECK WAS IN HIS HANDS
The odds of winning the six-figure jackpot were 1-in-960,000. | Published July 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Noah Feit
A man won big and is closer to buying a home thanks to a lucky lottery ticket in Maryland. Photo by Sandy Millar via Unsplash
NO. 3: MAN DREAMING OF BUYING A HOME WINS BIG LOTTERY PRIZE IN MARYLAND. 'I WAS STUNNED'
'The happy man has been working toward buying a house and reports that the prize will help him with his goal.' | Published July 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger
North Carolina lottery players won prizes ranging from $100,000 to $390,000. N.C. Education Lottery
NO. 4: $390,000 LOTTERY PRIZE AMONG SEVERAL BIG WINS ACROSS NC. WHERE WERE THE TICKETS SOLD?
Here's what to know about the state's lucky weekend. | Published July 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper
A Georgia lottery player just missed the Powerball jackpot, but still won a sizable prize, officials said. Jerry Habraken USA TODAY NETWORK
NO. 5: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN GEORGIA, OFFICIALS SAY. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?
Check your tickets! | Published July 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney
A grandpa won big after buying an $8 lottery ticket, Maryland officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto
NO. 6: GRANDPA PLAYED LOTTERY FOR 'YEARS AND YEARS' IN MARYLAND. THEN HE LANDED BIG WIN
The man was 'unsure' and needed confirmation when he first learned of the win, officials said. | Published July 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Paloma Chavez
The woman won big on a Pick 5 ticket, which she bought during a coffee stop, using her birthday numbers, Maryland Lottery officials said. Photo from Maryland Lottery
NO. 7: LOTTERY PLAYER'S BIG MARYLAND WIN LEAVES HER 'SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS'
'I never imagined winning such a big prize.' | Published July 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura
Dedicated lottery player celebrates biggest win in over 15 years, Maryland officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto
NO. 8: LOTTERY PLAYER HAD 'SOME LUCK' OVER 15 YEARS, BUT 'NOTHING LIKE' LATEST MARYLAND PRIZE
The winner was so 'stunned' at the site of the number she scanned the ticket several times to confirm, officials said. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger
A Missouri woman considered the number 23 unlucky until she passed on a winning lottery ticket with that number to her husband. GETTY IMAGES
NO. 9: WIFE SAW 'UNLUCKY' NUMBER ON LOTTERY TICKET AND GAVE IT TO HUSBAND — BUT THEY WON BIG
'What I've learned is that there is no unlucky number!' the Missouri woman said. | Published March 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rhiannon Saegert
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
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