2017 was full of luck for our players. We enjoyed meeting every winner and sharing in your excitement! As we get ready to start a new year, we want to share with you some of our favorite stories of good luck.
Largest scratch-off wins:
Monte and Gage Hukill of High Point top our list of big winners. The Marine veteran and high school teacher were the first players to win $10 million playing the Extreme Millions scratch-off game.
When Hukill realized he was a winner, he called out to his wife.
“I walked over to the stairs and yelled, ‘Hey honey, you might want to come down here,’” said Hukill recalling the moment.
Gage instinctively ran downstairs thinking something was wrong.
“My first initial thought was the kids,” said Gage. “But it wasn’t the kids! He showed me this ticket and I just thought, ‘No way. Things like this just don’t happen to ordinary people like us.’”
They plan to use the money to help their two kids pay for college.
Michael Hill of Leland also won $10 million. The nuclear plant worker won the last top prize in the Ultimate Millions scratch-off game.
“This is life changing,” Hill said of the win. “Wow! Just wow!”
Record Cash 5 wins:
2017 brought a record Cash 5 jackpot. In June, the jackpot reached $1,701,813. A family of 17 claimed the prize. They have a tradition of buying lottery tickets whenever jackpots get high.
Lisa Williard of Harmony also had good luck playing Cash 5. This year she won her second Cash 5 jackpot. Her first win came in 2008.
“It’s like being struck by lightning twice,” Williard said. “What are the odds?”
Williard said she plans to use the $355,141 to pay off her mortgage.
Second-Chance Winners:
Members of our Players Club also won big in 2017. Pamela Jamison of Dallas won a pair of Panthers season tickets for 20 years. When the truck stop cook found out she won, she let out a big cheer.
“I couldn’t believe it was me,” Jamison said.
And finally, Jeff Gould of Wilmington got to pick the Jeep of his dreams after he won the Jeep Second-Chance drawing.
“It’s unbelievable!,” Gould said. “Just unbelievable! You never think you’re actually going to win when you enter these drawings.”
Congratulations to all of our winners. We want to wish you good luck in 2018!
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I have a question to ask NCEL that I haven't seen up here before..when you add your points and enter a second chance drawing, what will happen if your name comes up twice. For example:a drawing pays out (1) $50,000, (2) $10,000, (5)$5,000, (10)$500 winners. What happens if your name comes up for the $10,000 prize and a $500 prize for example.