Wendy Diaz of Southport tried her luck on a $10 scratch-off ticket and won a $1 million prize.
Diaz bought her Carolina Black ticket from the Kopp’s Kwik Stop 2 on George II Highway in Southport.
When Diaz arrived at lottery headquarters on Friday to collect her prize, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. She chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $426,063.
Since Diaz won the last top prize, the lottery will begin steps to end the game.
Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $900 million per year for education. For details on how $5.4 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Brunswick County in 2020, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.