‘I started shaking,’ Chatham County man says of winning $433,736 Cash 5 jackpot

September 9, 2019 Posted by NC Lottery at 3:14 PM

Marco Yoque Ajcu of Bear Creek said he was so excited after winning a $433,736 Cash 5 jackpot, that he couldn’t stop shaking.

“I was nervous and excited,” Yoque Ajcu said. “I just can’t believe I actually won.”

The landscaper’s good fortune started Friday when he stopped at the Country Store on South Chatham Avenue Road in Siler City and bought a Cash 5 ticket for that night’s drawing. He found out he won the next morning when he went back to the store for a cup of coffee.

“I scanned the ticket and it said go to lottery headquarters,” Yoque Ajcu said. “I pulled the numbers up on my phone to check them. I started shaking when I saw how much I won. It didn’t feel real.”

He claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $306,869. He plans to use some of the money to pay off his mortgage.

Cash 5 is a statewide draw game that gives players the chance to win a jackpot every single night. Tickets cost $1 and players can buy tickets at most lottery retailers or through Online Play on the lottery’s website. The jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $120,000.

Ticket sales from draw games like Cash 5 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $700 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have helped all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website. https://www.nclottery.com.

22 COMMENTS

9/12/2019 07:54 - Sarah B.

RE: Geolocation issues. Hi everyone, We have a few suggestions that might help solve the issues you are having with geolocation. First, if you are on a mobile device, try deleting and reinstalling the most recent app version. Also make sure you have location services turned on for your phone and the app. If you are on a computer, make sure you have enabled location sharing in your browser settings and that you have also enabled your wireless card. If the issues continue after trying these things, please call our online support team so they can help troubleshoot further.

9/11/2019 11:46 - APRIL S.

Anthony D, if you are not having a storage issue, try uninstalling & reinstalling the app. As long as you can remember your current login info you should not lose your current points,draw info..etc. Hope this helps... ??

9/11/2019 09:55 - Steve L. P.

I'm experiencing everything Anthony D. is experiencing. I cannot play online. I use a laptop computer and it's been that way since the so called update with geolocation services.

9/11/2019 05:26 - Joshua M.

Yes, Anthony I have the same problem and so does my father. Can't buy online anymore even though my computer location is turned ON!!!. Can only purchase on my phone and the other night that didn't work either.

9/11/2019 04:39 - Zachary H.

Only thing the NC Lottery will give you is an addiction! If you’re looking for wining tickets, you may as well continue driving to the next state!!!!NC Lottery
Hi there Zachary, The lottery is meant to be played for fun knowing that it takes luck to win a prize of any size. Winning is never a guarantee. We hope that folks will only play so long as they are enjoying themselves. If you feel like you're not in control of your play anymore, we recommend checking out these resources: https://nclottery.com/PlayResponsibly

9/11/2019 04:33 - NC Lottery

@Anthony D. We're sorry you are still having trouble with the security update to our geolocation verification. Our tech support team is best equipped to help you resolve the issue, please give them a call at 1-855-767-1863.

9/11/2019 04:11 - ANTHONY D.

regarding the new system coming, I hope that it fixes the bug that no longer allows me to play online after allowing me to play online for so long. I get this error "Could not validate Geo Location Your device did not return any location information. Mobile data connection: make sure "High Accuracy" Location Services are enabled. WIFI connection: make sure your device is in range of multiple wireless connections. Please address the items above, then try again. [boundary] Retry Geo Location Check" When I click on that "Retry Geo Location Check" link I get "System Unavailable, Try again later". My IP address is NC, it has always been. My verified bank is NC, my verified account is NC. My IP address hasnt changed. Its quite annoying. I have to do this from my cell phone, which I do not like using at all. In that case it works. Hopefully the new system coming down the road fixes this particular bug.

9/11/2019 02:58 - Michelle S.

Congratulations ?? I keep telling my husband our day is coming soon!! We’re happy for you!!!

9/11/2019 10:29 - Mary H.

Congratulations :)

9/11/2019 07:30 - Gordon F.

cool beans,i am a landscaper and that guy really deserves it he is a super hard worker with not one complaint for years and years.Glad to see some one win instead of same people on the screen year after year no pun intended its great i have tried since 10/21/12 maybe one day,peace out and God bless.

9/10/2019 05:28 - Gary C.

Way to go Marco!!!! Paying the mortgage off is an excellent decision and now you are mortgage free for life!!!

9/10/2019 02:10 - KIMBERLY p.

Did he play this as a quick pick of a number he picked on his own?

9/10/2019 11:49 - Denver G.

Hey Charles, look on the back of the tickets. It clearly states that there is a lump sum option ....

9/10/2019 10:44 - Brenda S.

Way to go, best of lucck.

9/10/2019 06:23 - Charles P.

Why did the NC Lottery stop giving Scratch off winners of $1,000,000 or more the option of taking an immediate Cash Option of 60% of the ticket value less taxes??? Now any Scratch off win of $1,000,000 or more is paid out in either 10 or 20 year installment payments. If the NC Lottery doesn't have the money to pay winners, perhaps they should just stop the games. Not everyone wants to wait 10 or 20 years for their money. The majority of people playing the lottery need the money now...not over 10 or 20 years. Just how many people have not noticed the miniscule * beside prize numbers over $1,000,000 or more on Scratch Off tickets and in very, very small print on the ticket the new 10 or 20 year payout statement???NC Lottery
Hi Charles, we have not stopped giving winners of $1 million or more the option to take a lump sum instead of the annuity option.

9/10/2019 05:31 - vanessa b.

congratulation

9/09/2019 11:23 - Timothy S.

Awesome Marco, Congratulations!!

9/09/2019 06:52 - Gregory F.

Congratulations to you what a tremendous blessing you have received. Enjoy your blessing and paying off your mortgage.

9/09/2019 06:44 - roberta n.

Congratulations Mr. Ajcu.

9/09/2019 06:42 - roberta n.

Congratulations, What a blessing. Mortgage free is a blessing.

9/09/2019 06:21 - RHONDA L.

Congratulations, Way to go, Enjoy!!

9/09/2019 03:31 - Douglas H.

Congratulations Marco!!!

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‘I started shaking,’ Chatham County man says of winning $433,736 Cash 5 jackpot

September 9, 2019 Posted by NC Lottery at 3:14 PM