Anthony Robertson of Raleigh will get $50,000 a year for two decades after he won a $1 million lottery prize.

“It’s a nice feeling to know that I’m going to be getting that check for 20 years,” Robertson said.

The market researcher’s good fortune happened last week when he stopped by the Food Lion on Six Forks Road in Raleigh and bought a Holiday Millionaire scratch-off ticket.

“I was just getting a money order to pay my rent and decided to get a ticket,” Robertson said. He took the ticket to the car and started scratching.

“I couldn’t believe it at first,” Robertson said. “I thought, ‘Man is this for real?’”

Robertson claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the annuity and received his first check for $50,000. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $34,753. He plans to use some of the money to pay bills. He also wants to use some for real estate investment.

The $10 game launched in November. Robertson is the first player to win the $1 million top prize. Two top prizes remain.

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