Greensboro residents Mark Cockman, Jeffrey Jaeger, and Gary Selders enjoy playing the lottery together, but none of them could believe their luck when they hit a $158,535 jackpot Wednesday.

“We all looked at one another thinking, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” Cockman recalled.

Jaeger said he enjoys the group dynamic of playing the lottery.

“Playing with other people just makes it more fun,” Jaeger said. “It’s like camaraderie.”

The three friends met each other years ago at the Greensboro Elks Lodge on West Cornwallis Drive in Greensboro where they are all members. They were socializing at the lodge when they bought the winning $5 20X The Cash ticket.

“We each put a little bit in,” Jaeger said. “I don’t think any of us believed it when we won.”

At the time of their purchase, the jackpot stood at $317,070. Since they bought a $5 ticket, they received 50% of the progressive jackpot.

They arrived Thursday to collect their prize. Cockman and Selders each claimed $52,317 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $37,407. Jaeger claimed $53,902 and took home $38,540 after taxes.

They all plan to pay some bills with their winnings.
Fast Play features an instantly growing jackpot that increases with every ticket sold until it is won. As of Friday morning, the Fast Play jackpot stands at $175,000 and counting.

For details on how $32.6 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Guilford County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.