Eric Blankenship of Charlotte had luck on his side when he won $1 million in the lottery’s Ultimate Millions second-chance drawing.

He claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He 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. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $417,006.

Blankenship’s entry was drawn from more than 1.5 million entries in the Nov. 22 drawing. His win is the last of three second-chance drawings associated with the Ultimate Millions game. The drawing also awarded ten prizes of $5,000 and 25 prizes of $500.

The Ultimate Millions game started in 2015. Since all three second-chance prizes and all of the game’s top prizes have been claimed, the lottery is taking steps to end the game.

Ticket sales from instant games like Ultimate Millions make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.