Jerry Mullins of Pineville tried his luck on a $10 scratch-off and won the first $1 million prize in a new scratch-off game.
He bought the lucky Multiplier Mania ticket from the Food Lion on Johnston Road in Charlotte.
When Mullins arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday, 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 $427,503.
Multiplier Mania debuted last month with six $1 million top prizes. Five $1 million prizes remain to be claimed.
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 $61.8 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Mecklenburg County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.