Susan Underwood of Monroe took a chance on a $30 scratch-off and pocketed a $1 million prize.

Underwood bought her lucky Millionaire Maker ticket from Rollinghill Express on West Roosevelt Boulevard in Monroe.

When Underwood arrived to collect her prize, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. She chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $426,069.

Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how $16.4 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Union County in 2021, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.