Published on: February 23, 2026, 10:28h.
Updated on: February 23, 2026, 10:28h.
- An Ohio resident who consistently played the same lottery numbers for 22 years finally struck it rich
- The anonymous winner bagged a $3.5 million jackpot in Classic Lotto
- In other lottery updates, a new interstate game launched on Sunday
An Ohio resident, steadfast in his winning numbers for over two decades, has finally achieved his lottery dream.
In a testament to the power of perseverance, the Ohio Lottery has documented that a man has been steadfastly playing the same six numbers for over 22 years. On February 4, his commitment led to a life-altering victory.
Classic Lotto is a popular draw game held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 7:05 PM EST. A $1 ticket allows players to select six numbers from a pool of 49.
The odds of winning the jackpot in this 6/49 format are 1 in 39,983,816. Lower-tier prizes include $1,500 (with odds of 1 in 54,201 for matching five numbers), $70 (1 in 1,302 for four numbers), and $2 (1 in 57 for three numbers).
Persistence Pays Off with a Massive Win
The Classic Lotto game begins with a minimum jackpot of $1 million. Prizes continue to grow with each drawing without a winner, increasing by at least $100,000.
When lottery officials inquired about his choice to stick with the same numbers—6, 8, 16, 20, 26, and 45—the anonymous winner candidly admitted he is “stubborn.” He has been playing these numbers since 2004, typically investing around $10 weekly.
The jackpot from February 4 was worth $3.5 million. Opting for a lump-sum payout instead of 29 annual payments, the winner chose the one-time cash option of $1.7 million. After the deduction of state and federal taxes, the total prize amounted to $1,281,875.
The winner plans to use this newfound wealth for retirement and intends to purchase a home complete with a pool and a gym. The Ohio Lottery retailer that sold the victorious Classic Lotto ticket earned a $1,000 bonus.
Proceeds from the Ohio Lottery significantly contribute to K-12, vocational, and special education initiatives in the state, with over $33 billion allocated for educational assistance since its inception in 1974.
The Ohio Lottery proudly boasts the longest-running lottery television program in the nation, with the weekend Cash Explosion Show.
Launch of Millionaire for Life
A new interstate lottery game, Millionaire for Life, made its debut on Sunday. The inaugural drawing of this Powerball game took place on February 22, but nobody clinched the top prize of $1 million annually for life.
Two $5 tickets were close to winning, as they matched four of the white balls and the green Millionaire Ball while securing the third-place prize of $7,500 each, overcoming odds of 1 in 86,455.
With long-shot chances of 1 in 22.9 million for the top prize of $1 million a year for life, the second-tier reward of $100,000 per year for life presents odds of 5.72 million.