North Carolina Player Wins Lottery's Largest Scratch-Off Prize
Wednesday May 27th 2020A North Carolina lottery player has claimed a $10 million win, the state's largest scratch-off prize, on a $300,000,000 Supreme Riches ticket.
Wade Harmon picked up the lucky ticket at the Big Boys on Bagley Road in Kenly on his commute home from his job as an iron worker.
A regular Pick 3 and Pick 4 player, the Kenly resident decided to try out something new with the $30 scratch-off game.
"I went home and fired up my grill and I said, 'Well, I might as well scratch my ticket,'" Harmon told lottery officials. "I looked down and I said, 'Whoa!'"
"I'm thankful, I really am," he said. "I believe the Lord saved that for me. He had a reason for me to win this ticket. He's got plans for me."
Harmon had the option to receive his prize as an annuity of $500,000 annual payments for 20 years, or a $6 million cash option single payment. He opted for the lump sum and received $4,245,009 after federal and state tax withholdings.
After the life-changing win, "I'll still be the same old me," Harmon said. He will put the money "to good use" as he plans to "keep working for a bit more and use the money for retirement in a few years."
Harmon is also planning a cruise vacation with his children and their families once it is safe to travel.
More North Carolina lottery wins
Here are some more amazing North Carolina lottery prizes players have scooped recently.
Family help results in $1 million Powerball win for Salisbury man
When Jonathan Gonzalez decided to pick up a Powerball ticket, he called on his family members for assistance. The Salisbury resident asked his dad, sister, grandparents, and uncle to choose his numbers.
"I had them each pick a number from 1 to 69," he said. "And those were the numbers I played."
Gonzalez purchased his ticket at the Speedway on South Main Street in Salisbury, Rowan County, about 40 miles northeast of Charlotte.
The numbers his relatives chose matched the five main numbers, delivering a $1 million Match 5 second prize win.
However, the one number Gonzalez chose himself didn't perform so well. “I picked the Powerball number and that was the only one I didn’t match,” he smiled.
The lucky winner chose to receive the cash option and took home $707,501 after tax withholdings.
Gonzalez said he will help the family members who were instrumental to his win, after they lost their house in a fire the day after his birthday last year. He'll also pay off his mortgage.
Greensboro healthcare driver wins Cash 5 jackpot
Healthcare worker James Joyce works as a delivery driver, taking medicine to hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak. But the Cash 5 game recently delivered a big surprise to him - a jackpot win.
Joyce had finished his shift and stopped off at the Crossroads Exxon station on West Market Street in Greensboro, a regular stop for him. "It's routine," he said. He picked up a Carolina Cash 5 ticket with EZMatch, using his own numbers.
The next morning, he checked his numbers and learned he'd won the $149,814 jackpot. "I almost fainted," he recalled.
What are his plans for the money? "I'm going to buy myself a brand-new set of golf clubs," he said. Other than that, "I got a few small bills I can knock out but other than that, no big purchases. I'm just a happy-go-lucky guy."
After taxes, Joyce received $105,994.
North Carolina Lottery Updates
Gov. Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order to combat the coronavirus outbreak expired May 8, and the state moved into the first phase of a three-part reopening plan.
On May 22, North Carolina will progress to phase 2, which is expected to last five weeks. However, there will be more restrictions than originally planned. Venues such as restaurants, salons, and swimming pools will reopen at half their capacity.
All six lottery claim centers have reopened. Offices in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh and Wilmington are processing players' in-person prize claims with social distancing measures in effect.
If you've won less than $100,000, you can visit any of the claim centers. If you've gotten really lucky and won $100,000 or more, go to lottery headquarters in Raleigh to collect your check.
Other ways to claim include visiting a retailer for wins under $600, or mailing in your claim for prizes of $600 to $99,999.
Any claim of $600 and up requires a claim form, photo ID and Social Security card as well as the signed winning ticket.
The lottery has extended the deadline to claim a prize for all winning tickets due to expire from March 10 to August 1. Players can claim these prizes until November 1, 2020.
Lucke-Rewards and Second Chance drawings have restarted after being postponed during the stay-at-home period.
Tonight's Powerball jackpot is $114 million
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday, May 27 is an awesome $114 million ($91.6 million cash option), and you can play online without needing to leave the house. If you win a prize, it will be automatically deposited into your account.
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