James Lind of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. tried his luck on a $30 scratch-off and won a $1 million prize.
Lind bought his lucky $30 Millionaire Maker ticket from the Circle K on Yadkin Road in Fayetteville.
When Lind arrived at lottery headquarters Monday, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $427,509.
Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how lottery funds made a difference in all 100 counties in North Carolina last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.