2025 Press Releases

Bear Woman Wins $25,000 PLAY 5^® Prize - Plans to Share Winnings with her Daughter

Dover, DE — A 73-year-old woman from Bear is celebrating a life-changing $25,000 win from the September 29, 2025, PLAY 5^® night drawing. The winning ticket was purchased at Tobacco Time, located at 108 Fox Hunt Drive in Bear with the winning numbers of 1, 1, 9, 8, and 4.

The retired Delaware native has been playing the Delaware Lottery since 1992, always choosing her own numbers based on a birthdate. While she’s won four digits before, this is her largest win to date.

She discovered her win online and was in shock, first calling her daughter, who she says has been a “constant source of support through challenging times.” To show her appreciation, the grateful winner plans to use some of her winnings to help her daughter.

“This win will change my life tremendously,” the woman said, adding that she feels “incredibly blessed” by the experience. Both mother and daughter were elated to claim their prize.

“It’s so touching to see a winner use her prize to give back to a loved one,” said Helene Keeley, Director of the Delaware Lottery. “Stories like this remind us that Lottery wins can do more than change one life - it can also spread joy to the people we care about most.”

PLAY 5^® drawings are held twice daily, seven days a week. Day drawings take place at 1:58 p.m. with sales closing at 1:40 p.m., and night drawings occur at 7:57 p.m. with sales closing at 7:30 p.m. As an exciting, newer addition to the traditional lineup of games, PLAY 5^® is quickly becoming a fan favorite, offering players the chance to win up to $50,000 twice a day, every day. Tickets are available statewide at Delaware Lottery retailers.

About the Delaware Lottery:
Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed $6.0 billion to the state’s General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL^®, MEGA MILLIONS^®, LOTTO AMERICA^®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, LUCKY FOR LIFE^®, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, PLAY 5, Keno^®, Sports Lottery and Instant Games, iGaming, Video Lottery and Table Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional details are available at delottery.com, at licensed locations, and from the Lottery’s office in Dover.

Winner Privacy is our Policy.
The Delaware Lottery only publishes winner names with their consent.