WOODBRIDGE, VA — A routine morning turned into a life-changing moment for Romeo Albino of Woodbridge, who won a $178,234 jackpot playing the Virginia Lottery’s The Lamp online game just before heading to work.
Key Points
- Romeo Albino won $178,234 playing The Lamp, a progressive Virginia Lottery game.
- He previously won $10,000 but said this prize was entirely unexpected.
- The Lamp is one of many online instant games available through the Virginia Lottery.
Albino, who had previously won $10,000 playing the lottery, struck gold again with a much larger payday from a game he played on his mobile device. The winning moment came before his workday even began.
The Lamp is an online game offered through the Virginia Lottery’s mobile app and website. It features a progressive jackpot and has odds of 1 in 3.55 for winning a prize.
Winnings to support family needs
Albino said he has no immediate plans for his winnings but intends to use the money to support his family.
Players must be at least 18 years old and physically located in Virginia to participate in online lottery games. In addition to The Lamp, options include Powerball, Mega Millions, and Cash4Life, among others.
Education funding from lottery proceeds
Albino resides in Prince William County, which received more than $64.6 million in Virginia Lottery funds for K–12 education in the most recent fiscal year. Across Virginia, the Lottery generated over $934 million for education in Fiscal Year 2024, accounting for roughly 10% of the state’s total K–12 education budget.
