North Carolina

$5 lottery ticket turns into big prize in North Carolina. Where was ticket sold?

A lottery player scored a $155,000 prize in North Carolina.
A lottery player scored a $155,000 prize in North Carolina. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A lottery player spent $5 on a ticket — and scored a huge prize in North Carolina.

On May 21, the player bought a Fast Play ticket that matched enough numbers to win $155,241, results show.

The person is set to get richer after trying their luck on Red Hot Numbers, a Fast Play game that features a progressive jackpot. Winners have a chance at portions of the top prize, depending on how much they spend on their tickets, the N.C. Education Lottery wrote on its website and in an email to McClatchy News.

So, where was the lucky ticket sold? It came from Blue Ridge Tobacco & Candle Outlet in Winston-Salem, lottery officials wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

To win in the Red Hot Numbers game, a player must look for a fire icon or match the hot numbers printed on their ticket. Because the Winston-Salem winner spent $5 on their ticket, they won half of the total jackpot prize.

As of 9:45 a.m. May 22, officials said the $155,000 winner hadn’t claimed their prize. In North Carolina, the winners of Fast Play games have about six months to cash in, rules show.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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Simone Jasper
The News & Observer
Simone Jasper is a service journalism reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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