CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Those with the West Virginia Lottery celebrated the agency’s 28th anniversary by giving others gifts totaling more than $1 million.
Three finalists, selected using a second chance drawing for the $10 Monopoly Millionaire instant game, were in Charleston on Thursday afternoon to draw from three possible prizes: $10,000, $100,000 or $1 million.
“They all unveiled their checks at the same time, so no one knew, until everyone had unwrapped those checks, who won the $1 million,” said Nikki Orcutt, West Virginia Lottery marketing director.
She said Josh Schoolcraft, 21, of Given, was shocked to see he was the big winner. “He was actually pretty speechless,” said Orcutt.
However, Schoolcraft was quick to announce the three finalists had agreed that, no matter the outcome, they would pool all of the prize money and split it evenly.
The other finalists were Douglas Schafer of Wheeling and Todd Kingrey from Charleston.
With their deal, each of the finalists went home with $253,450 after taxes.
“They (the finalists) did not know each other prior to this date and I guess they all just wanted to guarantee that they were all going to walk away with a significant prize,” said Orcutt.
The West Virginia Lottery was created on Jan. 9, 1986. Since then, Orcutt said lottery proceeds have added up to $7.4 billion for public education, senior services and the state’s tourism industry.