Erik Kreiner of Weaverville has dreamed of winning a big lottery prize and it finally happened Wednesday when a second-chance drawing delivered him a $500,000 prize.
“Dreams do come true,” Kreiner said.
Kreiner found out he won his big prize in the $10 Million Spectacular Second Chance drawing when he got a phone call from the lottery. There were more than 1.9 million total entries in the third of four drawings.
“That was a surreal moment,” Kreiner said recalling the phone call. “It was quite shocking.”
He arrived at lottery headquarters Friday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $358,750.
Kreiner plans to use his winnings to invest and help family members who sustained losses during Tropical Storm Helene.
“It is a good way to pay it forward,” Kreiner said.
Players get a second chance with their $10 Million Spectacular scratch-offs by scanning them into their lottery accounts where they were automatically entered into the drawing. In addition to the $500,000 prize, the drawing had one top prize of $1 million and 10 $50,000 winners.
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. If you or someone you know needs support, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.
Check out the video below of Kreiner discussing his big win.
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