Retired Norfolk man wins $284K jackpot playing Virginia Lottery’s online game The Lamp
NORFOLK, VA – A few clicks was all it took for Joel Pitts to hit a life-changing jackpot when he won $284,283 playing The Lamp, one of the Virginia Lottery’s online instant games.
The Norfolk retiree struck it big during a quick session on the Lottery’s website but didn’t immediately realize how much he had won. The total prize—nearly $285,000—was revealed shortly after the winning play registered.
Pitts recently claimed the prize at Lottery headquarters. He hasn’t outlined specific plans for the money but indicated he intends to donate a portion of the winnings. The rest, he says, will be considered carefully.
The Lamp is one of dozens of digital games offered by the Virginia Lottery via its mobile app and website. It features a progressive jackpot and offers odds of 1 in 3.55 of winning any prize.
Virginia Lottery players can also purchase tickets online for popular games like Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash4Life, and Cash 5 with EZ Match. All players must be at least 18 years old and located within the Commonwealth to play online.
As with all Lottery proceeds, the profits from Pitts’ win contribute to K-12 public education across Virginia. Last fiscal year, Norfolk received more than $34.5 million in Lottery funds for its public schools. Statewide, the Virginia Lottery generated over $901 million for education in Fiscal Year 2025, accounting for roughly 10 percent of the overall K-12 budget.
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Key Points
- Joel Pitts of Norfolk won $284,283 playing The Lamp, an online Virginia Lottery game
- The digital game features a progressive jackpot and 1 in 3.55 odds of winning any prize
- Norfolk schools received $34.5 million in Virginia Lottery funds last year
