Ronald Daniels of Goldsboro said his dream of owning a home will come true after he won a $312,270 Cash 5 jackpot.

“It’s like a dream,” Daniels said. “We’re going to be rent free, and have a brand new house. I can’t imagine it!”

His good fortune happened Monday night when Daniels stopped by the Food Lion on New Hope Road in Goldsboro and bought a Cash 5 ticket.

“I used my children’s birthdays to pick my numbers,” Daniels said. “They’re my lucky numbers, I always play them.”

Daniels watched the live drawing later that night. When he saw that his ticket matched all five numbers, beating odds of 1 in 749,398, he couldn’t believe it.

“You never think it’s actually going to happen you,” Daniels said. “You never think you’re going to be that lucky.”

After a sleepless night, Daniels claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $217,346.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” Daniels said. “You can bet I’m going to sleep well tonight!”

Draw games like Cash 5 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 all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.