When James Essa bought a "Redskins Mania" scratch ticket on Sept. 5, he hoped to win a Redskins jersey or a signed helmet that he could give to his wife Mary for their wedding anniversary.
Instead, he ended up winning something they both can enjoy.
James and Mary, from Glen Allen, Va., are among the finalists to travel with the Redskins to Dallas for the game against the Cowboys on Nov. 22.
"I literally could not believe it," James said. "My wife said, 'I thought you were going to win me a jersey?' I said, 'I didn't win you a jersey, I won you a chance to go to the Dallas game.' And there was this sudden look of pure shock on her face.
"Then I started calling everybody and telling them the news. There are a lot of Redskins fans not real happy with us because they're a little envious."
The winners of the Dallas trip will be announced at halftime of the Oct. 26 game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField.
James and Mary will be there, on the field for the halftime announcement.
"We feel like we've already won," James said.
The consolation prize is four tickets to the Redskins-Cowboys game on Dec. 27 at FedExField. Not bad, James added.
James and Mary are the latest winners in the Redskins-Virginia Lottery scratch ticket partnership. They visited Redskins Park on Thursday and took a tour of the facility.
James registered for a second-chance prize as part of "Redskins Mania." Fans can enter their non-winning scratch tickets to win these once-in-a-lifetime Redskins experiences. The scratch tickets are available at nearly 5,000 Virginia Lottery retailers.
Prizes also include 2010 Redskins Premium Club season tickets, use of a luxury suite for 20 people for a Redskins game at FedExField, Redskins Premium Club season tickets for 20 years.
James admits to being a New York Giants fan--"the Redskins are my second favorite team," he said--but Mary is a huge Redskins fan.
They both have a favorite Redskin, and it's none other than Clinton Portis. If they win the Dallas trip, James said he hopes to meet Jason Campbell.
The only thing better than winning a trip to Dallas would be to win Redskins season tickets, James said.
"Actually, I've re-entered [the lottery] a couple time to see if I can win those season tickets, because I'd love to win her season tickets," James said. "The chances of winning twice probably aren't great, but you can't win if you don't try."
Redskins-Virginia Lottery's "Redskins Mania"
Redskins Mania scratch tickets are sold at nearly 5,000 Virginia Lottery retail outlets. Robyn Moody from Colonial Heights, Va., won $5,000 playing the new $50,000,000 Redskins Mania!
Redskins Mania scratch tickets are $20 and the cash prizes offered are similar to other Virginia Lottery tickets at that price point.
The odds of winning $1 million are 1 in 1,305,600 and the odds of winning any cash prize are 1 in 2.78.
Odds of winning the Redskins' second-chance prizes are based on the number of entries.
All non-winning tickets are eligible to win the second-chance prize drawings on **www.valottery.com**.
The chances of winning a prize through the Redskins Mania scratch ticket are in no way related to the team's performance on the field.
Prize Overview
Season Tickets for 20 Years:
Eight (8) winners starting with the 2010 NFL pre-season and expiring at the conclusion of the 2029 NFL regular season will each receive two premium club seats (in the "Club A" seating area of the Club Level at FedExField) and one orange parking pass to all preseason and regular season home games at FedExField.
VIP Fly-Away with the Team to Dallas:
Ten (10) winners and a guest each will travel round-trip on the team plane, local travel on the team bus, hotel accommodations in the team hotel and two tickets to the game. Each winner can bring one guest (at least 18 years old) and will receive $1,000 in spending money.
Season Tickets:
Numerous winners will receive premium club seats (in the "Club A" seating area of the Club Level at FedExField) and one orange parking pass to 2010 preseason and regular-season home games at FedExField.
Individual Game Tickets:
Numerous winners will receive premium club seats (in the "Club A" seating area of the Club Level at FedExField), one orange parking pass, and $500 in spending money to various games.
Authentic Redskins Helmet Signed by Player of Winner's Choice:
Five hundred (500) winners will receive one authentic Redskins helmet signed by a current Redskins player, current coach, or an available alumni player or coach of the winner's choice.
$500 Redskins Shopping Spree:
Five Hundred (500) winners will receive a $500 Redskins Retail Store gift card.
Luxury Suite for One Game:
Eight (8) winners will receive one catered luxury suite for up to 20 people, six purple parking passes and $1,000 in spending money. Good for one home game at FedExField during the 2009 season.
Redskins Player for a Day:
Eighteen (18) winners will receive:
- Authentic one-day Redskins player contract includes
- Personalized Redskins jersey and player sideline hat
- On-stage photo opportunity at Redskins Park behind Super Bowl trophies
- Redskins "Chalk Talk" presented to the group by a Redskins coach or member of the Player Personnel Department
- VIP tour of Redskins Park
- Each winner may bring one guest
- $500 signing bonus
VIP Practice Invitations:
Eighteen (18) winners will receive:
- Opportunity to view practice from the sidelines, just as the coaches do
- Player sideline hat & white-panel Redskins football
- Opportunity to obtain autographs from players and coaches after practice
- Redskins "Chalk Talk" presented to the group by a Redskins coach or member of the Player Personnel Department
- VIP Tour of Redskins Park
- Each winner may bring one guest
- $500 spending money
Game-Used Jerseys
Ten (10) winners will receive one authentic game-used jersey signed by a Redskins player.
How the VIP Trips to Dallas Prize Will be Awarded:
Ten VIP trips to Dallas will be given away during an on-field halftime event at the Oct. 26 Eagles game. Twelve entry finalists (plus one guest) will be brought to the game, sit in Club Seat A section, receive $500 in spending money and come on field during halftime. At this time, 10 finalists will win the VIP trip to Dallas. The two participants who do not win will receive four tickets to the Dec. 27 Redskins vs. Cowboys game (club seats in the A section) and $1,000 in spending money. All participants in the on-field event will receive overnight lodging after the game.
How the Season Tickets for 20 Years Prize Will be Awarded:
Seven pairs of season tickets for 20 years will be given away during an on-field halftime event at the Dec. 21 Giants game. Sixteen entry finalists (plus one guest) will be brought to the game, sit in Club Seat A section, receive $500 in spending money and come on field during halftime. At this time seven participants will win the season tickets for 20 years. The nine people who do not win will receive one pair of season tickets for the 2010 season. All participants in the on-field event will receive overnight lodging after the game.
