RALEIGH – Sydney Mitchell, a plumber from Dallas, is the first player to win the $200,000 top prize in the new $200,000 Gold Rush game. He said he plans to use his winnings to save for retirement.

“I’ve got a little while until I retire,” Mitchell said. “So this is a great thing to have to put aside for the future.”

Mitchell purchased the lucky $5 ticket at the Timeout C Store on Dallas-Stanley Highway in Dallas.

“I had stopped in to buy breakfast and decided to try out one of the new games,” Mitchell said. “When I scratched off the ticket my hand started shaking. I was very excited.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Mitchell received a check for $138,501.

The $200,000 Gold Rush game went on sale Jan. 6. As of Monday morning, five more $200,000 top prizes remain to be claimed in the game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. 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 more than $76 million in lottery funds have made a difference for specific education programs in Gaston County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.