PlaySmart Logo
Powerball Logo Jackpot Estimate $90 Million Cash Value $40.7 Million Next Drawing Mon, Jun 16 Latest Drawing Sat, Jun 14
4 6 9 23 59 25
POWERPLAY X3
Game Info Buy Now
Mega Millions Logo Jackpot Estimate $280 Million Cash Value $126.1 Million Next Drawing Tue, Jun 17 Latest Drawing Fri, Jun 13
8 10 22 40 47 1
Game Info Buy Now
Cash 5 Logo Jackpot Estimate $430,000 Next Daily Drawing Mon, Jun 16 Latest Drawing Sun, Jun 15
2 11 12 29 39
DoublePlay
1 18 26 38 43
Game Info Buy Now
Lucky for Life Logo Top Prizes $1,000/day for life or $25,000/year for life. Next Daily Drawing Mon, Jun 16 Latest Drawing Sun, Jun 15
12 17 25 40 44 7
 
Game Info Buy Now
Pick 4 Logo Latest Daytime Drawing Mon, Jun 16
2 0 8 4 4
Latest Evening Drawing Sun, Jun 15
9 6 3 1 0
Game Info Buy Now
Pick 3 Logo Latest Daytime Drawing Mon, Jun 16
6 9 1 7
Latest Evening Drawing Sun, Jun 15
7 7 0 1
Game Info Buy Now
Cash POP Logo
Game Info Find Store
Keno Logo

Win up to $1,000,000 every 4 minutes

Big Thrills Served Fast.
Watch Draw Find Store
FastPlay Logo
Progressive Jackpot Estimate
$72,727 Updated: Monday, 10:21:09 PM
View Games Find Store
news blog > article

Durham woman wins $1 million scratch-off prize

December 30, 2019 Posted by NC Lottery at 5:14 PM
image-photo
Margarita Mendez of Durham became the first person to find one of the top prizes of $1 million in the Big Money game.

Mendez bought her lucky $10 ticket at Han-Dee Hugo’s on N.C. 55 West in Cary. She claimed her prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.

Winners of the top prize have a choice of receiving their prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. Mendez chose the lump sum and after required state and federal tax withholdings received $424,503.

The Big Money game started this month with three top prizes of $1 million. Two of those prizes remain to be claimed.
 

12 COMMENTS

Login to leave a comment.

12/31/2019 11:04 - bennett l.

Happy New Year, congratulations

12/31/2019 08:45 - Denver G.

Congrats Senorita Mendez. Happy Freaking New Year. The lump sum was your choice. How you spend or invest is up to you. Don't let anyone tell you differently. There is no rush, take your time and make good choices.

12/31/2019 08:31 - Reneta M.

This NC lottery going in circles everyday. If l could win all the money back that l put in it then l would be happy. I find it hard to be happy for other winners when l am losing.NC Lottery
Sorry to hear you aren't having more luck lately, Reneta. It takes a lot of luck to win a prize of any size, not to mention a top prize. We hope you'll continue to play for fun only as long as you are enjoying yourself. We wish you all the best.

12/31/2019 02:44 - kisha J.

Does it matter if you dig in the trash for tickets that can be use for Lucke-Rewards points because some stores prohibits that and will not let you use them. I have been playing for awhile and have not won anything yet. NC Lottery
Hi Kisha, While we don't have any policies that prohibit folks from getting tickets out of the trash, we always encourage folks enter their tickets for points and second-chance entries before they discard them.

12/31/2019 01:23 - john B.

congratulation Margarita Mendez, I know you had a happy holiday .

12/31/2019 12:09 - Gloria C.

Congradulations to you. I wish you many more happy wins.

12/30/2019 10:33 - Barbara G.

Congratulations

12/30/2019 09:25 - Thomas B.

when you login to enter your tickets where do you go to logout?NC Lottery
Hi Thomas, You can log out of the website by clicking your username in the upper right and then selecting "Sign Out" at the bottom of that menu. If you click on your username and aren't seeing the option to log out, please hit CTRL and - on your keyboard, as your screen is probably too zoomed in to see the option.

12/30/2019 08:57 - Kevin G.

Congrats! !

12/30/2019 08:17 - wilbur r.

happy newyear

12/30/2019 08:01 - John J.

Congratulations!!

12/30/2019 07:20 - Sheila I.

Wow. Congrats to her. I've boo these a few times and they were all duds ?? ??

Helpful Links

Where to Play
Contact Us
Videos
Business Opportunities
For Retailers
Help
Rules & Terms
Privacy
Disclaimer
Sports Betting

Get the Mobile App

Apple App Store   Google Play Store

No Longer Just a Game? There's Help
Call 877-718-5543 Text "morethanagamenc" to 53342 Chat morethanagamenc.com

MUST BE 18 TO PLAY. Odds to win a prize and the top prize vary based on the game or promotion. See game or promotion pages for more detail.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the winning numbers posted on this website are accurate; however, no valid claim may be based on information contained herein. In the event of a discrepancy between the numbers posted on this website and the official winning numbers, the official winning numbers as certified by the Multi-State Lottery Association and/or the NCEL shall control. All materials on this Website are owned by or licensed to the NCEL. Materials on this Website may not be modified in any way or reproduced or publicly displayed, performed or distributed or otherwise used for any public or commercial purpose without the express written consent of the NCEL. Copyright © 2006-2025. The North Carolina Education Lottery. All rights reserved. Play Smart™ term is a service mark of the Illinois Lottery licensed to the NCEL.