A North Carolina lottery player tried her luck on a $30 scratch-off game.
Now, her plans for a dream home will soon be a reality.
Her brother, an architect, “drew the plans up for me years ago,” Carissa Jones told North Carolina Education Lottery officials. “I didn’t know when it would happen but I knew it would one day. And now it can.”
The Robeson County woman recalled crying as her husband jumped for joy upon seeing the $4 million prize, officials said in an April 11 news release.
She purchased the Black Titanium scratch-off game from the Quick Stop convenience store in Maxton, about a 100-mile drive southeast from Charlotte, according to officials. At one point, Jones said her husband “ran behind the counter and hugged the cashier.”
“This is a big blessing,” she told lottery officials.
Jones said she plans to donate a portion of her winnings to her church.
She opted for a lump sum payment of $2.4 million and walked away with $1,716,009 after taxes, according to a news release.
The lucky player beat odds of 1 in 1,985,155 to win the $4 million jackpot, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery’s website. Three grand prizes in the Black Titanium game are still up for grabs.
The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 4.14, officials said.
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
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