RALEIGH – Greensboro resident Vito Picone is the latest player to win big playing Carolina Cash 5. His Quick Pick ticket matched all five numbers in the Aug. 15 drawing to win the $313,425 jackpot.

“I checked the numbers on the computer and I had to rub my eyes,” Picone said. “It didn’t seem real, but I guess it is. I’m very fortunate.”

Picone purchased his lucky $1 ticket from Murphy Express on Elmsley Meadow Lane in Greensboro. After state and federal taxes were withheld, Picone received a check for $217,047.

“I’m going to put this right in the bank and then share some with my kids,” Picone said as he received his winnings on Monday. He beat odds of 1 in 575,757 to win the jackpot. Tonight’s Carolina Cash 5 jackpot is $82,000.

Picone is the third Triad-area player in two days to claim a big lottery prize. The other winners were B.A. Ray of Clemmons who won $1 million playing $200 Million Blowout and Bill and April Richee of Winston-Salem who won $260,278 playing Carolina Cash 5.

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 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 $178 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Guilford County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.