As the end of the year draws near, lucky lottery players across the state have 30 million reasons to celebrate. From Friday, Dec. 19 to Sunday, Dec. 28 North Carolinians scratched and matched their way to more than $30 million in winnings – including two $1 million prizes.
A construction worker in Western North Carolina won his $1 million prize playing the Millionaire Jingle bucks game. Royce Hatch of Leicester in Buncombe County said he plans to use the $1 million to buy a truck and maybe a new house.
The other $1 million prize was won in the Christmas Eve Powerball drawing, but has yet to be claimed. The Harris Teeter on South Tryon Street in Charlotte sold the ticket. Whoever beat the odds of 1 in 5.1 million to win the $1 million has 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim the prize money at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.
The Powerball jackpot annuity has climbed to $120 million for the New Year’s Eve drawing. It would be worth $77.2 million if won and claimed as a lump sum. The night before, Mega Millions players could win a $172 million jackpot annuity, worth $108.4 million in cash. Five North Carolina players have won multimillion-dollar jackpots ranging from $12 million to $141.4 million.
Four players claimed six-figure prizes over the 10-day span. Barbara Gabriel, a retired telephone company worker from Charlotte, said she would use the $130,009 jackpot she won in the Dec. 20 Carolina Cash 5 drawing to pay bills and help her grandchildren have a special Christmas.
In nearby Anson County, a Wadesboro resident won $200,000 instantly playing the “$” game. Constance Quick purchased her lucky $5 ticket at the Anson Mart on East Caswell Street in Wadesboro. As of Monday afternoon, two more top prizes of $200,000 remain to be claimed in the game.
A forklift operator from Aberdeen in Moore County hauled in $250,000 after his All or Nothing ticket matched none of the numbers chosen in the Dec. 12 evening drawing. “I’ve driven a forklift for the past 42 years,” William Marks said as he collected his winnings. “It’s time to do something new and this money gives me the opportunity to do that.”
Alexander County resident Henry Wellman of Hiddenite won $100,000. He bought a lucky Mega Bucks ticket for $5 at the Murphy USA on N.C. 16 in Conover. Tickets for the “Bucks” family of games are always on sale. There are currently three more top prizes of $100,000 in the game.
In all, instant players won more than $22.7 million in prizes. Ten scratched for wins of $10,000 to 20,000. They are:
- Linda Ruffin of Charlotte: $10,000 ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
- Tommy Nguyen of Fort Mill, SC: $10,000 ($200 Million Blowout)
- Erika Larrea of Greensboro: $20,000 (Joker’s Wild)
- Christopher Roy of Greensboro: $10,000 (Millionaire 7’s)
- Norma Padilla of Greenville: $10,000 ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
- Odilon Torres of Leicester: $10,000 (Jumbo Jingle Bucks)
- William McDowell of Lexington: $10,000 ($200 Million Blowout)
- Wade Hall of Lumberton: $10,000 ($120 Million Cash)
- Teri Morris of Raleigh: $10,000 ($200 Million Blowout)
- Tyler Canaday of Rockwell: $10,000 (“$”)
Draw game players won more than $7.3 million. Tickets for North Carolina draw games won more than $5.6 million and in eight total drawings for multistate games, players statewide won more than $1.7 million.
We hope the holiday season has been good to you and we're looking forward to ringing in 2015 with you too. See you soon here in the Lucke-Zone.
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