Ruby Nell Woods of Fayetteville has her grandkids to thank for her $134,004 Cash 5 win. She used her grandkids’ ages as inspiration to choose her winning numbers for Saturday’s drawing.
“This doesn’t happen every day,” Woods said.
She bought the ticket Friday at the Circle K on McArthur Road in Fayetteville. Woods stopped at the store Tuesday and decided to use the self-scanner to see if she was a winner. After she scanned the ticket, a message popped up that said: “Winner. Claim at lottery headquarters.”
Woods knew that she had won more than $600, but she still didn’t realize that she had won the jackpot. She went home and spoke with her husband.
“I don’t know what I won, but pull your phone out and check the Cash 5 drawings,” she told him. He did, and showed her the results.
“There it was,” Woods said. “All five numbers.”
She claimed her prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal withholdings, she received a check for $93,135.
Woods says she plans on using some of the money for home improvements.
Woods beat the odds of one in 749,398. Tonight’s drawing has an estimated top prize of $124,000. This month, the jackpot for Cash 5 starts at $100,000, up from $50,000, due to the Cash 5 $100K Days promotion.
Ticket sales from draw games like Cash 5 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars a year for the state. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Cumberland County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.