Tyler Gragg of Connelly Springs took a chance on a $30 scratch-off and won a $1 million prize.
He bought his lucky Millionaire Maker ticket from Murphy Express on N.C. 73 in Denver.
When Gragg arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $427,509.
Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how $5.1 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Burke County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.