Angelette Cheek of Pittsboro always believed she would win big playing the lottery and on Sunday it happened when she captured the first $1 million top prize in a new lottery game.
“I always said one day I would get a ticket that would send me to Raleigh,” she said. “You’ve just got to be in it to win it.”
Cheek bought her lucky $10 Emerald 10’s ticket from Neal's Gas & Convenience on East Street in Pittsboro.
“I started scratching and I saw the one followed by the ‘m’ and I was just in shock,” Cheek recalled.
She said she chose the Emerald 10’s game because of a good feeling.
“Something just told me to buy that one,” she laughed. “I like playing the new games.”
When Cheek arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive her prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. She chose the lump sum of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $430,503.
She plans to use her winnings to help her family and do some home renovations.
The Emerald 10’s game debuted this month with five $1 million top prizes. Four $1 million prizes remain to be claimed.
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