Dustin Haithcock of Gastonia says he plans to buy his parents a dream home after he won the first top prize of $1 million playing the Lucky No. 7 scratch-off game.

The Gaston County man bought the lucky $10 ticket at the Garrison Express Mart on Garrison Boulevard in Gastonia.

He claimed his prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Haithcock 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 lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $423,009.

“It feels like a dream,” Haithcock said as he claimed his prize. “The first thing I’m going to do is buy my parents a house and save the rest.”

Lucky No. 7 launched in April with six top prizes of $1 million. Five top prizes remain to be claimed.

Ticket sales from instant games like Lucky No. 7 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how $13.2 million raised by the lottery supported education programs in Gaston County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website, https://www.nclottery.com.