Shawn Gallagher of Franklinton keeps a close watch on the size of the Cash 5 jackpot and, when it surpassed $500,000 on Saturday, he bought a $1 ticket and won the $539,813 prize.
“I have a fear of missing out when it’s a big pot,” he said.
Gallagher bought his lucky Quick Pick ticket using Online Play. The odds of matching all five balls are 1 in 962,598. He told his wife after he got the notification that he won.
“She wanted to kiss me,” he laughed.
Gallagher claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $387,317.
He plans to use his winnings to pay some bills and pay off his mortgage.
Cash 5 is one of six lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying tickets at a retail location or with Online Play through the lottery’s website or the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Tuesday’s jackpot is $120,000.
The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program helps North Carolinians make the most of their lottery play. Visit ncplaysmart.com to learn about all things lottery, from tips on how odds work to how to enter bonus drawings.
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