Raleigh man will buy a house with $250,000 top prize win

Michael Guilford of Raleigh plans to buy a new home after winning a $250,000 scratch-off prize.

“This is a blessing,” he said.

Guilford bought his lucky $5 20X The Cash ticket from the Harris Teeter on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. He works at the store and bought the ticket from a lottery vending machine.

“Something was just pushing me to buy that ticket,” he said. “It was like instinct.”

Guilford said he always enjoys playing the 20X The Cash game.

“I won $1,000 on it a few years ago so I didn’t want to give up on playing it,” Guilford said.

He collected his prize at lottery headquarters Friday and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $179,376.

The 20X The Cash game debuted in February with eight $250,000 top prizes. Three $250,000 prizes remain to be claimed.