National

Man switches up Powerball numbers in Washington and sees ‘prize too large’ on screen

A Washington state man decided to switch up his Powerball numbers before checking his ticket two days later.

The man from Arlington couldn’t believe it when he saw a “prize too large” on a Washington Lottery kiosk screen, according to a Monday, Nov. 14, news release from the state lottery agency.

He won $150,000, the release says. But he checked his numbers two more times before the win sank in.

Instead of playing his usual numbers, he had selected QuickPick to randomly choose numbers. He also added Power Play to his ticket for another $1, which multiplies a win.

As he headed home from work, he called his wife to share the news. The two then went to the lottery office 30 minutes before it closed to retrieve the $150,000.

That night, they celebrated over dinner.

The couple plans to pay bills with their lottery win and save the rest.

Arlington is about 50 miles north of Seattle.

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 November 15, 2022 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Man switches up Powerball numbers in Washington and sees ‘prize too large’ on screen."

Helena Wegner
McClatchy DC
Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.
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