Relaxing cruise takes shocking turn when man checks lottery ticket. ‘My wife screamed’
A relaxing cruise took a surprising turn when a lottery player discovered his ticket was worth $1 million.
“My wife screamed and fell off the bed,” Jerome Testa told the Virginia Lottery.
The couple was in the Caribbean when Testa checked his lottery numbers and learned his ticket won a top prize.
“I still haven’t wrapped my head around it,” Testa, an aerospace technician, told lottery officials in a Jan. 23 news release.
Before setting out on vacation, Testa stopped at a Wawa convenience store in Fredericksburg, roughly 55 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. While there, officials said he bought a ticket for the New Year’s Millionaire Raffle.
It turns out, Testa’s ticket was one of five across the state to win $1 million in the raffle. Now, the lucky winner said he will put his prize money toward family.
The lottery in its news release didn’t say how much Testa paid for his lottery ticket or his total prize after taxes. He is from Orange County, west of Fredericksburg.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
This story was originally published January 24, 2024 at 6:18 AM with the headline "Relaxing cruise takes shocking turn when man checks lottery ticket. ‘My wife screamed’."
