Imagine what it would be like to win $50,000 on a $3 scratch-off game. William Upchurch Jr., a retiree from Raleigh, knows that feeling. He’s the first top prize winner of the new Diamond Mine instant game from the N.C. Education Lottery.
Upchurch claimed his $50,000 winnings at the Raleigh claim center on Wednesday. He said he planned to pay off some bills, contribute to his church, and enjoy the experience with his grandkids, wife and family. Upchurch also said he was “thankful” for his good fortune. He purchased his winning ticket at the New Bern Avenue Exxon on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh.
The Diamond Mine game debuted in stores on July 26 with five top prizes of $50,000. With Upchurch's win, four top prizes are still in the game as of August 5. Diamond Mine is an “extended play” style game similar to the NCEL’s popular crossword and bingo games. To win a prize playing Diamond Mine, a player must match all the numbers in a single horizontal line of one of the four “diamonds” with their numbers at the bottom of the ticket.
Through June 30 of last year, Wake County players have won more than $225.3 million in lottery prizes and local retailers have earned more than $28.6 million in commissions on ticket sales. During the same time, Wake County education programs have received more than $108 million in lottery funds.
By law, lottery funds benefit teacher salaries, school construction, need-based college scholarships and prekindergarten programs. To date, the lottery has raised more than $2 billion for these education programs statewide. For more information about beneficiaries, visit the “Where The Money Goes” page on the lottery’s website.
Login to leave a comment.