The NC Education Lottery revealed that three players have won big from its scratch-off tickets. All of them have come forward to claim their winnings, with every single one choosing the one-time lump sum option.
Fuquay-Varina Winner Secured $1M Prize
The first winner was identified as Jared Smith of Fuquay-Varina, who purchased a $10 50X The Cash scratch-off ticket and turned it into a $1 million payout. According to lottery officials, the winning ticket was sold at Harris Teeter on East Broad Street in Fuquay-Varina.
Smith visited the lottery HQ to claim his prize. When asked whether he’d like to receive his prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000, he chose the latter. After required tax withholdings, Smith took home $432,063.
The $1 million prize the player won is the game’s top prize. At launch, the game featured a dozen such prizes. According to the lottery, ten $1 million prizes have yet to be claimed.
Hendersonville Woman Almost Threw Out a $1M Ticket
In addition to Smith, Melissa Johnson of Hendersonville won $1 million after she almost threw her ticket in the garbage bin. After thinking better of it, she scanned it and found out she was now a millionaire.
The woman had purchased the $10 LOTERIA™ MULTIPLIER scratch-off from the Rock Convenience on Chimney Rock Road in Hendersonville.
My heart was beating so fast, I started screaming. I worked so hard in my life, I never thought this would happen.
Melissa Johnson
Like Smith, Johnson also opted to go with the lump sum option and, after taxes, took home $432,063. In an interview with lottery representatives, she said that she plans to use the money to help her family.
At launch, the LOTERIA™ MULTIPLIER game featured four top prizes of $1 million, only two of which now remain unclaimed.
Charlotte Man Won the Fast Play Jackpot
The third winner was Dwayne Bollinger of Charlotte, who won a six-figure sum thanks to the Fast Play jackpot. The lottery explained that the player bought a $5 Double W!n ticket from the Food Lion on Polk Street in Pineville.
At the time of the win, the jackpot had reached some $1,586,756. However, since Bollinger had purchased a $5 ticket, he was eligible to receive only 50% of the prize. For context, Fast Play features a progressive jackpot that increases with each ticket sold.
After taxes, Bollinger took home $571,313.