George Rongotes Jr. of Wilmington tried his luck on a $5 Fast Play ticket and won a $154,166 jackpot.
Rongotes bought his lucky Double Win ticket on Jan. 3 from Ludus Social Club, a bar he owns, on Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington.
At the time of his purchase, the jackpot stood at $308,332. Since Rongotes bought a $5 ticket, he received 50% of the progressive jackpot.
He arrived Thursday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $99,051.
Fast Play features an instantly growing jackpot that increases with every ticket sold until it is won. As of Thursday afternoon, the Fast Play jackpot stands at $225,000 and counting.
For details on how $11.4 million raised by the lottery made a difference with education programs in New Hanover County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.