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Charlotte woman wins first $277,740 top prize in new game

September 25, 2026 Posted by NC Lottery at 9:17 AM
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Jennifer Couret of Charlotte tried her luck on the $200,000 Taxes Paid scratch-off game and won the first $277,740 top prize.

Couret bought her lucky $5 ticket at the QuikTrip on Central Avenue in Charlotte. The odds of that win are 1 in 1.69 million.

She arrived at lottery headquarters on Wednesday to claim her prize. After state and federal tax withholdings, Couret took home $200,000.

The $200,000 Taxes Paid scratch-off debuted this month with three $277,740 prizes. Two remain to be claimed.

Mecklenburg County received state funding totaling over $60 million last year for educational programs. For details on other ways money raised by the lottery made a difference in Mecklenburg County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.


2 COMMENTS

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9/25/2026 09:58 - Paula F.

Congratulations ????

9/25/2026 09:24 - Angela A.

Congrats! @NCEL I am not surprised the first top prize was won in Charlotte. They have a larger population and spending way more money than all the other counties. Yeah RIGHT tell someone else that story, because other places are spending a lot of money too!

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