Moises Rodriguez of Clayton is the latest player to win $1 million playing the Ultimate Millions scratch-off game.

Rodriguez, a landscaper, said it took him a while to believe he actually won. “I had the clerk check it,” Rodriguez said. “But I still didn’t believe it.”

He believed it after he claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum and after federal and state tax withholdings received $415,509. He says he plans to take some time before deciding what to do with the money.

Rodriguez bought the $30 ticket at the Valero Express Way on N.C. Highway 42 in Clayton.

Two top prizes of $10 million and five $1 million prizes remain to be won instantly. Players can also enter their tickets online into a second-chance drawing for $1 million.

Ticket sales from games like Ultimate Millions made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how more than $77.7 million in lottery funds has made a difference in Johnston County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.