‘It’s better than scoring a touchdown!’ Charlotte man says of $1 million win

January 25, 2018 Posted by NC Lottery at 1:05 PM

Lewis Watkins of Charlotte said he felt like a football player making a touchdown after he played the Extreme Millions scratch-off game and scored $1 million.

Watkins’ good fortune happened when he stopped by the Kangaroo Express on Ashdale Court in Concord to get a drink.

“The guy in front of me bought an Extreme Millions ticket,” said Watkins, who works in a lab testing asphalt. “So I thought, ‘Why not take a chance?’”

He bought the $30 ticket and scratched it. When he saw that he won $1 million, he celebrated.

“I started running up and down the gas pumps like it was a football field,” Watkins said. “I’m sure people thought I was crazy. It’s better than scoring a touchdown!”

Watkins claimed his prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $417,015. He plans to use some of the money to buy a new truck.

Extreme Millions launched in December 2016 with four top prizes of $10 million and 22 prizes of $1 million. There are two top prizes and 10 $1 million prizes to be claimed.

Ticket sales from instant games like Extreme Millions make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for the state.

Congratulations!

9 COMMENTS

1/31/2018 01:56 - Kailie P.

I bought 2 $30 EXTREME MILLIONS. I won $30 the first time and $1,000 the second time the other day. Congrats!!

1/28/2018 06:47 - Mike S.

Come on moderators - Paul H. is talking about the new "Multiply The Cash Second Cash Second Chance", not the current "X The Cash". Notice he used the March 31st date in his question NOT the January 31st date. Paul H., when the new multiplier games come out on Feb 6th those tickets will automatically be entered into the new "Multiply The Cash Second Cash Second Chance" drawings.

1/26/2018 02:20 - Michele J.

"TO GOD BE THE GLORY" it was your season to REAP YOUR BENEFITS JUST REWARD. CONGRATULATIONS and what a GREAT START to a CRISP NEW YEAR... Enjoy!!!!

1/25/2018 08:50 - paul h.

I have no idea how to enter the Multiply The Cash Second Cash Second Chance! The dead line for entry is 3/31/18? NC Lottery
The deadline for the final drawing is 1/31/18. To enter the drawing, you need to scan or enter an "X the Cash" scratch-off ticket. You can do that by going to your "User Dashboard" and going to the "Collect" icon. The tickets that qualify will automatically be entered into the drawing. You can see your entries by going to the "Draw" icon. Make sure the second-chance section is selected.

1/25/2018 07:02 - Jeanette W.

I'm sorry the time was 10:41:11

1/25/2018 07:01 - Jeanette W.

Congrats! I purchased two Cash 5 quick picks at the Valero on Poole Road for the 1/24/18 drawing. When I woke the next morning I realized that the cashier gave me one ticket and the other was just a receipt for the $2 Mega Million that I cashed in for the Cash 5. Is there a way I can get my ticket back or I have to count it as a loss? Not sure if the winning ticket was sold from that drawing or what. It was purchased at exactly 07:41. I just feel like I was cheated out of a possibly winning ticket. NC Lottery
Jeanette- That's a loss you'll just have to take. You'll want to contact the retailer and let them know about their mistake. If you continue to have issues with the retailer let us know and we can look into it.

1/25/2018 06:43 - William D.

Congrats to the Touch Down. I am Not a Huge Winner, But I am a Big Winner as today my Birthday I received the Big Tee Shirt I won with a debit card from NC Education Lottery!!!!WWWwweeeeee. Mmmmm what do I do with the debit card? Hang it in a picture frame and proof I have won something to all who visit me. He hehe Yes I support the lottery for Education. NC Lottery
Happy birthday William!

1/25/2018 05:22 - Tanya C.

Looks like Charlotte, Raleigh, or Wilmington is the place to buy tickets! It's always the larger cities!

1/25/2018 02:19 - William N.

What a blessing! I'm still entering my Extreme Millions tickets when I buy them for the second chance drawing. It can be pretty frustrating though. I've probably bought about 5 or 6 of the $30 tickets and only made back the actual price of the ticket once. It's starting to seem like the cheaper options may be the way to go IMHO. I recently bought the big money super ticket for $10 and won $20. But it's all a game of chance. Seems like the $30 ticket should give you better odds though. Congrats Mr. Watkins!!!

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‘It’s better than scoring a touchdown!’ Charlotte man says of $1 million win

January 25, 2018 Posted by NC Lottery at 1:05 PM

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