25-year-old ‘felt an urge’ to play lottery — then scored $1 million prize in NC
A 25-year-old North Carolina man “felt an urge” to play the lottery — and his instincts were spot-on.
Jeremy Hartzell bought a scratch-off ticket and later realized it was worth $1 million, according to the N.C. Education Lottery.
“This couldn’t have come at a better time in my life,” the father of two said in a Sept. 20 news release.
The prize was a welcome gift for Hartzell, who hit the jackpot days after moving to North Carolina.
“I came here to rent but now I’m coming here to buy,” said Hartzell, who didn’t reveal where he moved from.
Hartzell had a stroke of luck after visiting the Quick Mart convenience store in Marshall, roughly 20 miles northwest of the mountain town of Asheville. While at the business, he spent $10 on a ticket for the Big Cash Payout game, officials said.
“I just felt an urge to buy a scratch-off,” Hartzell told the N.C. Education Lottery.
That decision paid off big time, and Hartzell decided to take his $1 million prize in a lump sum of $600,000. He kept $426,063 after taxes and plans to spend the money on his children, officials said.
It’s not the first time a lottery player had a big hunch.
In July, officials said a North Carolina retiree had a winning feeling before she scored a $2 million prize.
And in Virginia, a student with a similar feeling won enough money to help pay off bills, McClatchy News reported in March.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
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.
This story was originally published September 21, 2022 at 8:03 AM with the headline "25-year-old ‘felt an urge’ to play lottery — then scored $1 million prize in NC."
