TOANO, VA — Christmas Day turned unforgettable for Stanley Dawson of Toano when he struck a $431,457 jackpot in the Virginia Lottery’s Castle of Crystals online game.
While watching football on Christmas, Dawson decided to try his luck with some online Lottery games. He quickly realized he had won big. Dawson recalled the moment he shared the news with his wife, who initially thought the win might be a scam.
Dawson plans to save the winnings and pay off bills.
Castle of Crystals is one of many online instant games available through the Virginia Lottery’s app and website. The jackpot grows with every play, and the odds of winning a prize in this game are 1 in 3.99.
The Virginia Lottery contributes all profits to K-12 education. Dawson resides in James City County, which received over $4.8 million in Lottery funds for education last year. In Fiscal Year 2024, the Lottery generated $934 million for public schools, accounting for 10 percent of Virginia’s K-12 education budget.