VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — New Year’s Eve turned into a life-changing moment for Shannon Humes after a quick game on his phone earned him a $623,371 jackpot. The Virginia Beach resident struck it big playing The Lamp, an online game offered by the Virginia Lottery.
Humes, a retired Navy veteran, was casually playing the progressive jackpot game on the Virginia Lottery’s mobile app when he hit the massive prize. The odds of winning any prize in The Lamp are 1 in 3.55. The game is part of the Lottery’s growing collection of online games available on its website and app, alongside major draw games like Powerball, Mega Millions, and Cash4Life.
Humes said his primary plan for the winnings is to take care of his family. Virginia Lottery profits support K-12 education, with Virginia Beach schools receiving more than $39.7 million in funds last fiscal year. Statewide, the Lottery contributed over $934 million to K-12 education in Fiscal Year 2024, making up about 10 percent of the state’s school budget.