Lottery winnings - pile of money
Lottery winnings - Pile of money

New Kent woman calls her lottery win before discovering massive $125K prize

Posted by
1 min read
August 11, 2026

Pawfect Payday ticket from Lanexa store delivers the game’s top prize

LANEXA, VA – A New Kent woman scratching a Virginia Lottery ticket beside her friend had a feeling she was holding a winner — then discovered her hunch was worth $125,000 when the ticket revealed the game’s top prize.

The winning Pawfect Payday scratcher came from Sunny Mini Mart at 15321 Pocahontas Trail in Lanexa.

The woman’s friend was with her when she scratched the ticket.

Before knowing exactly what the ticket held, the New Kent resident told her friend she knew she had won something.

She was right.

The ticket carried a $125,000 top prize.

The Virginia Lottery did not publicly identify the winner.

Virginia law allows lottery prize winners to remain anonymous, and the woman exercised that option.

Pawfect Payday offers prizes ranging from $5 to $125,000.

The New Kent woman’s win marks the second $125,000 top prize claimed from the game.

One $125,000 top prize remains available, according to the Virginia Lottery.

The odds of capturing the game’s top prize are 1 in 897,600.

Overall odds of winning any Pawfect Payday prize are 1 in 4.24.

Virginia Lottery profits support K-12 public education across the Commonwealth.

New Kent County received more than $1.6 million in lottery funding for K-12 education during the previous fiscal year.

During Fiscal Year 2026, the Virginia Lottery generated more than $914 million for K-12 education statewide, accounting for approximately 10% of Virginia’s total K-12 school budget.

For one New Kent woman, a simple prediction to her friend proved far more accurate than she could have known — the ticket in her hands held $125,000.


Key Points

  • A New Kent woman won the $125,000 top prize from a Virginia Lottery Pawfect Payday scratcher.
  • The winning ticket was purchased at Sunny Mini Mart, 15321 Pocahontas Trail in Lanexa.
  • This was the second top prize claimed from the game, leaving one $125,000 prize still available.
Chris Quigley

Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

As a member of the Shore News Network editorial team, Quigley works closely with public officials, community leaders, first responders, and local organizations to provide factual coverage of breaking news, municipal government, public policy, and events affecting New Jersey residents. Her work highlights both major developments and the local stories that shape communities across the state.

Quigley is committed to responsible journalism, emphasizing accuracy, source verification, and transparency in every story she reports. She strives to present information in a clear and accessible manner, helping readers better understand the issues, decisions, and events that impact their daily lives.

Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

Experience and interests: Criminal Justice, Business, Animal Care, Entertainment, Lottery News, Local News

Don't Miss