One lucky Hit 5 player just turned a routine grocery run into a six-figure payday, after matching all five white balls in the May 9 drawing to scoop up a $110,000 cashpot. The winning ticket was sold at the Safeway in Cle Elum, and the store will pick up a retailer bonus for being the site of the big win.
The winning Hit 5 numbers were 1, 20, 24, 39 and 42, according to Washington's Lottery. The state site lists the May 9 cashpot at $110,000 and notes that Hit 5 prizes are paid out as cash awards.
Where the ticket was sold
The winning ticket was purchased at the Safeway at 804 West First Street in Cle Elum, the Tacoma News Tribune reports. The retailer will receive a $1,100 bonus for selling the winning ticket, according to Tacoma News Tribune.
How Hit 5 works
Hit 5 drawings take place nightly at 8 p.m. Ticket sales for that day's drawing close at 7:45 p.m. and resume at 7:46 p.m. for the next drawing. A play costs $1, players choose five numbers between 1 and 42, and tickets can be purchased for up to 25 consecutive drawings. The odds of winning the Hit 5 cashpot are roughly one in 851,000, according to Washington's Lottery.
Gambling can be harmless for many but harmful for some. If you or a loved one shows signs of problem gambling, help is available. Call the national gambling helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling.
The win is a reminder that cashpots can land anywhere in Washington, including small towns east of the Cascades. Cle Elum is roughly an hour and 20 minutes' drive from Tacoma, Tacoma News Tribune notes, and the local Safeway will enjoy a modest bonus on what is a very big payout for one very fortunate player.
