RALEIGH – George Young Jr., a resident of Rose Hill in Duplin County, plans to purchase a new home, help his children and invest the $2 million he won playing the new Powerball game.

Young is the first player in the state to claim $2 million playing the updated game, which is two times more than he would have won in the old game on his $3 Power Play ticket. He matched all five white balls but not the red Powerball in the April 7 drawing. Before the game’s update in mid-January, the amount won for matching all five white balls but not the Powerball on a Power Play ticket was $1 million.

His winning ticket was purchased at the Kerr Drug on N.C. 117 North in Rose Hill. After taxes were withheld, he received a check worth $1.36 million.

“I’m in the clouds, just floating,” Young said as he collected his winnings. “I beat the odds. It doesn’t seem real. It’s like I’m dreaming.”

The jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing is currently $94 million if taken as an annuity or $56.9 million if taken as a lump sum.

Since the lottery began through June 30, 2011, Duplin County education programs received more than $12.4 million in lottery funds. By law, those funds pay for teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction, need-based college scholarships and prekindergarten programs.