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Man wins $1 million lottery prize just before wife’s birthday — and has a gift in mind

The man’s split-second decision to play online paid off.
The man’s split-second decision to play online paid off. Virginia Lottery

A Virginia man’s $1 million jackpot came just in time for a special day, he told lottery officials in a March 21 news release.

Annandale resident Man Nguyen decided to buy a few Virginia lottery tickets on his phone one day, which paid off big.

One of the Mega Millions tickets he bought matched five numbers in the Feb. 28 drawing, winning him $1 million, according to lottery officials.

The odds of matching the first five numbers in the Mega Millions game are 1 in 12,607,306, according to lottery officials. If Nguyen had matched the last number, which was the Mega Ball number, he would have landed the $145 million jackpot prize.

The $1 million was more than enough for a purchase Nguyen had in mind, though.

“My wife’s birthday is coming up, and I’m thinking of buying her a new car,” he told lottery officials.

Annandale is about 15 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

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.

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This story was originally published March 22, 2023 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Man wins $1 million lottery prize just before wife’s birthday — and has a gift in mind."

Alison Cutler
mcclatchy-newsroom
Alison Cutler is a National Real Time Reporter for the Southeast at McClatchy. She graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and previously worked for The News Leader in Staunton, VA, a branch of USAToday.
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