Lottery player’s yearlong strategy pays off. Now Virginia man plans to help veterans
Bill Pickens has played the same numbers in the Virginia lottery for the past year. It finally paid off.
The retiree from Chesapeake won $1 million playing his lucky numbers in the Mega Millions game, getting five of the possible six numbers correct in the July 22 drawing, the Virginia Lottery said in a Jan. 24 news release.
The odds of doing so are 1 in 12,607,306, according to the lottery.
The lucky numbers were 14-40-60-64-66, the lottery said. Pickens only missed the Mega Ball number, which was 16.
Pickens told Virginia lottery officials he “wants to use part of his winnings to help make canes for Purple Heart veterans who need them.”
Pickens bought his winning ticket online, but came in person to pick up his prize, accompanied by his service dog.
Drawings for the Mega Millions game are held at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, the lottery said.
