Michael Butler of Rockingham took a chance on a $5 scratch-off ticket and won a $200,000 prize.
Butler bought his lucky Emerald 8s ticket from the Food Lion on N.C. 5 in Aberdeen.
He arrived at lottery headquarters Wednesday to claim his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $143,001.
The Emerald 8s game debuted in December with six $200,000 top prizes. Four $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
For details on how $3.3 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Richmond County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.