Wife’s lucky buy delivers $100K windfall in Newport News A Newport News man has won a $100,000 prize after scratching a lottery ticket his wife purchased during a shopping trip. Matthew Stevenson, the winner, revealed that his wife, who frequently plays the lottery, bought several scratch-off tickets and brought them home for the couple to share. One of the tickets, a Gold Hard Cash scratch-off, turned out to be the game’s top prize of $100,000. The winning ticket was purchased at a Stop & Go store located at 14609 Warwick Boulevard in Newport News. Stevenson told lottery officials he has no immediate plans for the winnings, though he expressed surprise at the outcome. The Gold Hard Cash game, offered by the Virginia Lottery, features prizes ranging from $10 up to $150,000. Lottery officials noted that this was the first time the game’s top prize had been claimed, with two remaining $150,000 prizes still unclaimed. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 1,060,800, while the odds of winning any prize in the game are 1 in 4.76. The Virginia Lottery’s profits support public education across the state. In the most recent fiscal year, over $38 million in lottery funds went to K-12 education in Newport News, contributing to more than $901 million raised statewide for schools. The winning ticket’s purchase highlights the unpredictable nature of lottery games, where a simple trip to the store can lead to a life-changing windfall. The story also underscores the role of shared experiences in lottery wins, as Stevenson’s wife’s habit of buying tickets created an opportunity for the couple to celebrate together. While the exact plans for the winnings remain undisclosed, the victory serves as a reminder of the lottery’s ability to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary outcomes.#matthew_stevenson #stop_and_go #newport_news #virginia_lottery #gold_hard_cash
