RALEIGH – Cameron Carlton of Greensboro is the third player to win $1 million instantly playing the 20X the Money game. She purchased her winning ticket at the Quick Shop Gas Stop on High Point Road in Greensboro.

Carlton collected her winnings at lottery headquarters on Tuesday. Rather than claim her $1 million prize in annuity payments of $50,000 a year for 20 years, she chose the $600,000 cash option. The after-tax value of her prize totaled $408,003.

With Carlton’s win, three top prizes remain unclaimed in the game, which began May 16, 2012. Along with draw games, sales of instant tickets make it possible for the N.C. Education Lottery to raise money to benefit specific education programs in all 100 state counties.

Since the lottery began through June 30, 2012, Guilford County education programs received more than $127.6 million in lottery funds. By law, those funds pay for teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction, prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, and college scholarships and financial aid based on need.

To date, the N.C. Education Lottery has raised more than $2.6 billion for these initiatives statewide.