Maurice Elliott of Durham says his good luck winning a $150,000 lottery prize will help him pay for his daughter’s education.

Elliott, a chef, said his lucky win came with his third try on Saturday with the $500 Cash game. He bought the $5 ticket at the Metro Express Market & Grill on Erwin Road in Durham.

“When I saw it, my eyes jumped back and forth,” said Elliott as he collected his prize Monday. “I let my Mom check it to make sure. She woke up later in the middle of the night and said make sure that’s not $150. I said, ‘Mom, it has a comma in it.’”

Elliott was the fourth person to win the game’s top prize. He says he likes the game because he won $500 once before and because of the “Back Scratch” feature which makes him feel like he’s getting two games for the price of one.

After the required federal and state tax withholding, Elliott received $103,876. He said he would buy a “slightly used” truck for himself and help his daughter pay for her college education.

Ticket sales from games like $500 Cash made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how more than $84.2 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Durham County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.