Linda Singleton of Seagrove said she only needed bread and milk when she stopped by the convenience store Tuesday afternoon. Instead, she walked away with her groceries and a 777 scratch-off ticket worth $277,777.
“I rarely play the lottery,” Singleton said. “I saw the new scratch-off tickets and decided to get some for me and my son.”
The payroll specialist didn’t scratch the tickets until her son reminded her later that night.
“I saw the first ‘7’ and kept scratching,” Singleton said. “I kept seeing ‘7’s’. I added them all up, looked at the instructions, and then added them up again. I was jumping up and down I was so excited. It felt like I was dreaming.”
Singleton claimed her prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $195,837. She plans to use the money to help with retirement.
“It’s so nice to know that I only have to work if I want to, not because I have to,” Singleton said.
Singleton bought the 777 ticket at the Ready Mart on North Broad Street in Seagrove. The $5 game launched Tuesday. Singleton is the first player to win the top prize of $277,777. Three top prizes remain.
Ticket sales from instant games like 777 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education.
Congratulations!
Login to leave a comment.