Durham resident Marlen Rios De Torres believed a big lottery win would happen soon and her prediction came true on Tuesday when a $5 Fast Play ticket turned into a $153,919 jackpot.

“I just had a feeling like I was going to win big soon,” she said. “I could feel it.”

Rios De Torres bought her lucky 20X The Cash ticket Tuesday night from the Harris Teeter on N.C. 54 West in Durham. At the time of her purchase, the jackpot stood at $307,838. Since she bought a $5 ticket, she received 50% of the progressive jackpot.

“I was very excited,” Rios De Torres recalled. “Just happy and surprised.”

She arrived at lottery headquarters Wednesday to collect her prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $110,054.

“I know we’ll be okay now,” Rios De Torres said.

She plans to use her winnings to pay some bills.
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 $169,000 and counting.

For details on how $13.8 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Durham County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.