Dublin, Ohio – A lottery player from Dublin is celebrating a major win after years of sticking with the same set of numbers finally paid off. The Ohio Lottery confirmed that J.R. from Dublin won the $160,000 Rolling Cash 5 jackpot on February 26, 2026, turning a simple routine ticket purchase into a life-changing moment.
According to lottery officials, the winning numbers for the drawing were 1-2-26-30-31. For J.R., some of those numbers held personal meaning long before the jackpot arrived.
Family Numbers Bring a Lucky Break
J.R. said he has played the same Rolling Cash 5 numbers for years, believing that one day they might deliver a big win. Two of the numbers on his ticket carry special family significance. The number 2 represents the month his grandson was born, while the number 26 has been connected to important birthdays in his family.
Both his father and his mother-in-law celebrate birthdays on the 26th, making the number especially meaningful. What made the win even more remarkable is that the jackpot drawing happened on February 26, which was his mother-in-law’s birthday.
Reflecting on the moment, J.R. said that “in life, sometimes you just don’t know when good fortune will come your way.” The win, he added, came at exactly the right moment for his family.
His daughter is preparing for her upcoming wedding, and J.R. said the prize will help him make the celebration even more special.
After state and federal taxes totaling 26.75 percent, the winner will receive $117,200 from the jackpot. J.R. already has a few ideas about how the money will be used.
Part of the winnings will go toward a family trip to celebrate his upcoming 60th birthday. He also plans to take his wife on a special vacation to mark a milestone that has been waiting for recognition—his retirement from the fire department.
The winning ticket was purchased at the Shell Station located at 201 W. Bridge Street in Dublin, which sold the lucky ticket for the February 26 drawing.
Officials with the Ohio Lottery noted that wins like J.R.’s are part of a program that has supported education across the state for decades. Since 1974, the Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $34 billion to education, helping fund schools and learning programs throughout Ohio.
For J.R., however, the win is about more than numbers and jackpots. After years of playing the same combination tied to family memories, those numbers finally came together on a meaningful date—creating a moment he says arrived just when his family needed it most.
