Thanks a million: Virginia woman wins $1M from scratch-off given to her as anniversary gift

RICHMOND, Va. — Now, that’s a nice anniversary gift.

A Virginia woman, who received a lottery scratch-off ticket as a gift from her son, won $1 million in the Royale game, according to Virginia Lottery officials.

“It said $1 million, but I truly didn’t think it was $1 million,” Charrondarous Goode-Burroughs, of Richmond, told lottery officials after revealing the top prize in the $1 Million Royale game. “I couldn’t believe it. I’m still processing it.”

The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 979,200, WTVR reported.

Goode-Burroughs had the choice of taking the full $1 million in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash payment of $601,684 before taxes, WRIC reported. She chose the cash option, the television station reported.

Goode-Burroughs said she had not decided what to do with her jackpot, WTVR reported.

This is the first of four top prizes in the $1 Million Royale game, lottery officials said. Three more remain unclaimed.

Cox Media Group