For Allison Haas of Dallas, a love of crossword puzzles led her to a $150,000 lottery prize.

“I’ve been getting crossword scratch-off tickets since I turned 18,” Haas said. “They’re my lucky ticket.”

After dropping her mom off at work Thursday morning, Haas stopped by the Dallas Grocery Store on East Trade Street in Dallas. She bought a Silver & Gold Crossword scratch-off ticket. When she got home, she started scratching, her disbelief growing after she revealed ten matching words.

“My first reaction was, ‘No way! This can’t be happening,’” Haas said. “I just sat and stared at the ticket. I swear I recounted those words at least 30 times. It still doesn’t feel real”

It started to sink in when she claimed her prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $104,253. She plans to use some of the money to get a new car.

The $5 game launched in May with four top prizes of $150,000. One top prize remains.

Ticket sales from games like Silver & Gold Crossword made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million for the state last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.