Raleigh – Robert Gawlik was shocked to discover that a ticket he had purchased on a routine trip to the gas station turned out to be worth $150,000.

A resident of Durham, Gawlik works as a business intelligence analyst in the health industry. On Thursday, he purchased his lucky Win It All ticket from Metro Express Market & Grill on Erwin Road.

“I was just getting gas and decided to buy a couple tickets,” said Gawlik, “And now the $7 that I spent on the tickets has turned into $150,000.”

Gawlik scratched off the lucky $5 ticket while sitting at home on his couch.

“I must have looked at it at least fifty times,” Gawlik said. “I probably even looked at it a hundred times. But I had to make sure. When I knew that I had won, I was in disbelief. I’m just ecstatic about this win. Lady Luck finally showed her face.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Gawlik received a check for $103,876. He plans on using his winnings to pay bills, purchase a new Chevy or Ford truck, help loved ones and take a golf vacation to the mountains or Myrtle Beach.

“Win or lose, I’m glad that the money I spend on the lottery is going to help things like school construction and teacher pay,” said Gawlik. “Education is very important, and even if I don’t win I know it’s going to a good cause.”

As of Friday afternoon, one more top prize remains to be claimed in the Win It All game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds were used last 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 $71 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Durham County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.