Virginia man tossed winning $10 million lottery ticket on floor

Oct 14, 2016, 9:24 am (8 comments)

Virginia Lottery

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — If he'd known he was holding a ticket worth $10 million, George Coffroad might have been a bit more careful with it. When the Alexandria man went to his car with Virginia Lottery Scratcher tickets he'd just bought, he tossed them on the floor of the car.

It wasn't until later at home, when he scratched his 100x the Money ticket, that he discovered he'd won the game's $10 million top prize.

The prize is the largest ever offered by a Virginia Lottery Scratcher game. Since he's the first player to claim that top prize, he's now the biggest Scratcher winner in the Virginia Lottery's history.

"I thought it was incorrect," he later said. "It took quite a few minutes to settle in."

On Oct. 13, he received his check from the Virginia Lottery. He had a choice of taking the full $10 million over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $5,617,977 before taxes. He chose the cash option.

He bought the ticket at Landmark Towers Sunoco, 190 South Whiting Street in Alexandria. The store receives a $50,000 bonus from the Virginia Lottery for selling the winning ticket.

Mr. Coffroad, who is a small business owner, said he has no immediate plans for his winnings.

"It's a game-changer," he said. "It must have been my turn."

100x the Money features prizes ranging from $30 to $10 million, including a $1 million second prize. Since this is the first top prize claimed, two more $10 million tickets remain unclaimed in this game. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 2,611,200. The odds of winning any prize in this game are 1 in 2.78.

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WTVR

Comments

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Moral of this Story: Treat each Ticket like It's a Winner!

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Raven62 on Oct 14, 2016

Moral of this Story: Treat each Ticket like It's a Winner!

I Agree! Sign the back of the ticket ASAP. Just sign it but do not fill out the rest of the ticket until you know it is a winner. This is to protect your identity when you lose and throw it out. Use a shredder.

 Congratulations to George Coffroad!!

LottoAce's avatarLottoAce

Congrats to the winner and home boy for knocking it down!
enjoy the win!

Skibunnylk's avatarSkibunnylk

The odds for this game are appealing, Powerball and Mega Millions 2nd prize have much worse odds. I wonder what the tickets cost?

Artist77's avatarArtist77

These tickets are $30.  Too much. That winner is close to a mall I shop at but usually those big wins are never in northern va.

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Heck, I'd trade $30 for 5 million cash. Occasionally I'll buy a $20 tic, but I usually buy $2 or $5 tix.

I still like the draw games more.

Theox-'s avatarTheox-

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Oct 16, 2016

Heck, I'd trade $30 for 5 million cash. Occasionally I'll buy a $20 tic, but I usually buy $2 or $5 tix.

I still like the draw games more.

I prefer draw games too. It doesn't matter when or where I buy the ticket. There are too many uncontrollable variables in play with scratchers.

American Indian's avatarAmerican Indian

WHY Spend $30. on a scratch or any type of Lottery Ticket and throw it on the floor of your Vehicle......... 

If It means so little too you and anybody else out their that does stuff like this I'LL GIVE YOU MY INFO AND YOU CAN SEND ME YOUR MEANING LESS MONEY SO I CAN BUY A WHEELCHAIR VAN & MOVE INTO A PLACE BIG ENOUGH TO GET AROUND AN LIVE IN.

THANK YOU

End of comments
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