Melvin Brooks of Stanley saw that a friend won a nice prize playing the new $400,000 Jackpot game so he tried his luck on Saturday and won the first $400,000 top prize in the game.

“I saw a friend’s post that he won $100 on that scratch-off so I decided to try it,” Brooks recalled.

He bought his lucky $5 ticket from Circle A Food Store on North Main Street in Mount Holly.

“I was with my cousin when I scratched the ticket in the parking lot,” he said.

Brooks said they went out to celebrate after he won.

“It’s not every day that you win $400,000,” Brooks said.

He arrived at lottery headquarters Monday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $286,001.

Brooks said he plans to use his winnings to pay off his mortgage and help out his wife and daughters.

The $400,000 Jackpot game debuted in April with five $400,000 top prizes. Four $400,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

For details on how $14.7 million raised by the lottery made a difference for Gaston County education programs last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.