Christopher Poulos of Asheville is starting 2017 with a $1 million lottery win.
He bought a $200 Million Blowout ticket at the Ingles on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville on New Year’s Day.

When he scratched the ticket, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Poulos said. “I was in shock.”

He claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Poulos had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum and after federal and state tax withholdings received $417,012. He plans to use some of the money to pay bills.

The $20 ticket launched in October of 2014 with four top prizes of $4 million and 16 prizes of $1 million. One top prize and four $1 million prizes remain.

Ticket sales from games like $200 Million Blowout made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $634 million dollars for the state last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Buncombe County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.