RALEIGH – William Marks of Aberdeen says he “never wins anything.” True to form, his All or Nothing ticket matched none of the numbers chosen in the Dec. 12 evening drawing. But due to the game’s unusual way to win, this time he won the $250,000 top prize.

Players of the All or Nothing game win the top prize if they match all 12 numbers or none of the 12 numbers. Marks’ Quick Pick ticket was the first one to capture the top prize by matching none of the numbers.

Marks plans to use his winnings to retire from his job as a forklift operator at South Atlantic Galvanizing.

“I’ve driven a forklift for the past 42 years,” Marks said. “It’s time to do something new and this money gives me the opportunity to do that.”

Marks is the second player to win $250,000 playing the game. He purchased the lucky $2 ticket at the Kangaroo Express on Jefferson Davis Highway in Sanford.

“I took my tickets to a store have them scanned on Friday,” Marks recalled. “When I found out I’d won $250,000 I just felt numb. I was in a state of shock.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Marks received a check for $173,000. He said he plans to use a portion of his winnings to purchase a Cadillac Escalade.

“Good gracious,” Marks said as he held his check for the first time. “Boy, this is just something else. I’m very happy.”

The new All or Nothing game started in September as part of the lottery’s effort to raise more money this year for education.

To play All or Nothing, players choose 12 out of 24 numbers. The game offers 10 ways to win with prizes that begin at $2 and go to $250,000. Tickets cost $2 each and drawings occur every day at approximately 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 2,704,156 and the approximate overall odds of winning including breakeven prizes are 1 in 4.54.

A special All or Nothing promotion has been underway since Dec. 8. When players make a single All or Nothing purchase of $4, they'll automatically get a free $2 Quick Pick ticket. The promotion lasts through Jan. 31, 2015.

Ticket sales make it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion a year to support education programs. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how $22 million in lottery funds have made a difference for specific education programs in Moore County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.