Sherrinne Reece of Fayetteville is the first person to win a $1 million top prize in the new Crown Jewels scratch-off game.
The Cumberland County woman bought the lucky $10 ticket at the Rayconda Exxon on Raeford Road in Fayetteville.
She claimed her prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Reece had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year, or a lump sum of $600,000. She chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $423,009.
Crown Jewels launched earlier this month with six top prizes of $1 million and six prizes of $50,000. Five top prizes and five $50,000 remain to be claimed.
Ticket sales from instant games like Crown Jewels make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how $21.6 million raised by the lottery supported education programs in Cumberland County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website, https://www.nclottery.com.