RALEIGH – Latia Gaston of Charlotte said that she loves the holidays even more after buying a Holiday Gold scratch-off ticket Tuesday worth $1 million.

Gaston decided to try her luck after her mother, Josetta Gaston, suggested she buy one of the lottery’s new scratch-off tickets that came out the same day.

“I heard the ‘First Tuesday’ song in my head,” Josetta recalled. “I said, ‘Get the new $10 ticket.’”

Latia bought a Holiday Gold ticket at the Kangaroo Express on East Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, and let her mom scratch it.

“Do you see this?” Josetta said. “I think you really did win – it’s real!”

A $1 million prize in the game can be claimed in 20 annuity payments of $50,000 or a one-time payment of $600,000. Latia Gaston chose the lump sum, worth $415,503 after required withholdings. She said she planned to use her winnings to invest in her hairdressing business.

The family said the prize money would allow them to do more charity work this season.

“We always help those in need for the holidays, with gifts for kids and food for families,” Josetta said.

Two top prizes of $1 million remain to be claimed in the Holiday Gold game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how $297 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.