Brittaney Dominguez of Winfield, Ala. grew up in North Carolina and she said she will move back to the state with the help of a $2 million scratch-off win.
“Now I can buy my house and be back home,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez bought her lucky $20 Mega 7’s ticket from VGO 28 on North Reilly Road in Fayetteville. She took the ticket to her friend’s house and started scratching.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Dominguez recalled. “It didn’t really register.”
She said she immediately went back to the store to double-check the ticket.
“The store clerk gave me a huge hug,” Dominguez said. “I told her she was my good luck charm.”
When Dominguez arrived at lottery headquarters Monday to collect her prize, she had a decision to make. She could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $100,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $1.2 million. She chose the lump-sum amount of $1.2 million and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $854,633.
In addition to buying a house, Dominguez said she wants to invest some of her winnings, and potentially start a food truck as she has a passion for cooking.
Mega 7’s debuted in October with four $2 million prizes and eight $100,000 prizes. Two $2 million prizes and three $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program educates and empowers North Carolinians to make smart decisions when they play the lottery. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the lottery highlights Play Smart to help ensure when North Carolinians play the lottery it doesn’t become more than a game. Visit nclottery.com/PlaySmart to learn how the Play Smart program helps someone create a game plan to keep lottery play fun. If you or someone you know needs support, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.