Lucky coin reveals a jackpot for North Carolina couple in new lottery game
A woman used her lucky coin to scratch off a jackpot in a new North Carolina lottery game, officials said Friday.
“I about had a heart attack last night,” Christy Pinckney of Winston-Salem said when she and her husband, Jeffrey, claimed their $1 million prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Thursday, according to a lottery news release. “We’re both still in shock.”
Ticket bought during convenience store stop
The couple bought the $10 Loteria Multiplier ticket Wednesday at the Snak’s gas station-convenience store on Old Lexington Road in Winston-Salem.
They beat overall odds in the game of 1 in 3.6 million, according to the Loteria Multiplier game page. The odds of winning one of the final three $1 million jackpots are 1 in 1.2 million.
The couple took the ticket home but waited a bit to scratch it.
“I have to be in the right mood to scratch it,” Christy Pinckney said. “And I only scratch with my lucky coin.”
A choice in taking home the jackpot
The couple had the choice of a $50,000 annuity over 20 years or a $600,000 lump sum. They chose to split the lump sum, according to the lottery, and each took home $216,031 after taxes.
They said they plan to buy a new home. They’ll also buy a car for their daughter, they said.
Loteria Multiplier debuted March 3 with four top $1 million prizes.
This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 8:48 AM.