Virginia Lottery scratch-off ticket brings $500,000 win to South Carolina man

Martin Calixto, an electrician from Greenville, SC, recently struck it big while taking a break from work in Salem, Virginia. While working with his father in the Salem area, the two decided to stop at Caverns Market on Fallbrooke Road. Martin purchased a Bags of Cash scratch-off ticket from the Virginia Lottery, and as he began to scratch it, he quickly realized he was holding a winning ticket.

“Oh wow! We should probably check that out!” Martin exclaimed to his father after seeing the big win. To their amazement, the ticket was a top prize winner worth $500,000.

Winning Against the Odds

Bags of Cash is one of the many scratcher games offered by the Virginia Lottery, featuring prizes that range from $10 to the top prize of $500,000. The odds of winning the top prize in this game are 1 in 612,000, and the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.78. Despite the challenging odds, Martin’s lucky break turned his casual purchase into a life-changing event.

Martin said he has no immediate plans for his substantial winnings other than to take care of his family.

Supporting Education in Virginia

All profits from the Virginia Lottery go directly to K-12 education in the state. The winning ticket was purchased in Salem. Overall, in Fiscal Year 2024, the Virginia Lottery contributed more than $934 million to K-12 education, accounting for about 10 percent of the state’s total school budget.

For more information on how Lottery funds are distributed to Virginia school districts, visit the Virginia Lottery’s Giving Back page. For general information or to play games online, visit the Virginia Lottery’s website or download the Lottery’s app. Connect with the Virginia Lottery on Facebook, X, Instagram, or YouTube.