PITTSBURGH, PA — A life-changing online jackpot turned a regular Friday into a million-dollar moment for a longtime Army service member from Beaver County.
Christopher Lehman, who has served 25 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, won $1,351,472 playing the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Jackpot Spectacular game online on May 30. Just hours after opening his new Lottery account, Lehman hit the progressive jackpot.
The Pennsylvania Lottery presented a ceremonial check to Lehman on Monday during an event at the Pittsburgh Area Office. The prize, which came from a connect-style online game, marked one of the largest individual online wins in recent Lottery history.
Lehman had only recently relocated to Pennsylvania from New Hampshire with his wife Judith. After signing up for a PA Lottery account the same day, he budgeted $100 to play and selected Jackpot Spectacular because the prize amount seemed close to hitting.
The win comes just ahead of another milestone for the Lehman family. Their youngest daughter is set to graduate from Army basic training on Wednesday, adding another reason to celebrate.
Online jackpot fuels veteran’s next chapter
The couple plans to pay off their mortgage and a car loan with the winnings and intends to invest the rest. Lehman said he enjoyed playing online in New Hampshire and was excited to continue in Pennsylvania, where the Lottery’s online games have generated over $500 million in profits for senior programs since their launch in 2018.
The Jackpot Spectacular game features multipliers, free games, and bonus rounds. Its progressive jackpot system is shared across participating states and continues to grow until a player wins.
PA Lottery officials, including Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne and Executive Director Drew Svitko, congratulated Lehman and thanked him for his military service during the check presentation.
Lehman’s win is the latest in a growing number of high-value prizes claimed through the Lottery’s digital platform, which is accessible via computer, tablet, or smartphone.
