Russell Gomes had just gotten off work and was stopping by the grocery store for some chicken. The South Boston man also happened to buy a Magnificent 7s scratcher ticket from the Virginia Lottery while he was there.

When he scratched the ticket in the parking lot outside the store, he discovered he’d just won the game’s $500,000 top prize.

“I really didn’t believe it!” he told Lottery officials when he redeemed his winning ticket. “It feels great!

He bought his winning ticket at the Food Lion at 3346 Halifax Road in South Boston.

Mr. Gomes, who drives a tractor-trailer, said he has no immediate plans for the winnings, except to pay for a previously planned vacation.

Magnificent 7s is one of dozens of scratcher games offered by the Virginia Lottery. It features prizes ranging from $20 up to $500,000. This is the first top prize claimed in this game, which means two more remain unclaimed. The odds of winning the top prize in this game are 1 in 612,000. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 5.9.

All Virginia Lottery profits go to K-12 education in Virginia. Mr. Gomes lives in Halifax County, which received more than $4.4 million in Lottery funds for K-12 education last fiscal year. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Lottery raised more than $867 million for K-12 education, making up approximately 10 percent of Virginia’s total K-12 school budget.

For a complete list of Lottery funds distributed to Virginia school districts, visit the Virginia Lottery’s Giving Back page. For general information or to play games online, visit the Virginia Lottery’s website or download the Lottery’s app. Connect with the Lottery on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

With all gaming, please play responsibly.