Check your pockets. $8.3M SC lottery payout has record number of winners

Check your pockets.

The South Carolina Education Lottery has a record number of Pick 4 winners in what is being called “a lottery first,” according to a news release.

Lottery officials said 3,351 straight plays won with 4-4-4-4 in the Friday drawing. The prize is a record-breaking $8.3 million payout.

Depending on what they paid for their ticket, Pick 4 winners can take home $2,500 or $5,000 per play. The odds of winning with a straight play are 1 in 10,000.

Winners have 180 days after Friday’s draw to claim their prizes, lottery officials said. They can do so by mail or by visiting the the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center in Columbia. Because of the large number of winners, visitors can expect a long wait at the Claims Center next week.

Updates will be posted at sceducationlottery.com and on social media.

This story was originally published January 27, 2024 at 12:00 AM.

Alexa Jurado

The State

Alexa Jurado is a news reporter for The State covering Lexington County and Richland County schools. She previously wrote about the University of South Carolina and contributes to this coverage. A Chicago suburbs native, Alexa graduated from Marquette University and previously wrote for publications in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Milwaukee Press Club and the South Carolina Press Association.