Woman plays lottery game for first time and NC prize leaves her in disbelief. ‘No way’
A North Carolina woman played a lottery game for the first time — and the prize left her in shock.
“I didn’t believe it at first,” Lacretia Spaulding told the N.C. Education Lottery. “I kept saying, ‘No way, no way.’”
But her win was the real deal, meaning Spaulding was getting much richer. She celebrated her $100,000 win after she stopped at a Circle K in Fayetteville, roughly 65 miles south of Raleigh, officials wrote in a news release.
While at the convenience store, Spaulding said she was drawn to a ticket for the Fire lottery game. Though she had never played the game before, she decided to spend $5 on a scratch-off.
“The Fire one just caught my eye,” the 31-year-old Fayetteville resident told lottery officials. “I guess the first time was a great time.”
That’s because she later discovered that her ticket was worth much more. She said she was in her truck when she started scratching it off, revealing the unexpected $100,000 prize.
Spaulding, who kept $71,251 after taxes, said she plans to put her prize money toward bills and might go on a family trip to Florida.
“It’s a blessing,” Spaulding told the N.C. Education Lottery. “Pretty awesome.”
It’s not the first time a North Carolina lottery player has hit the jackpot while trying a new game. One man won big on his second-ever ticket, while a college student scored a prize the first time she played, McClatchy News reported.
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 May 23, 2023 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Woman plays lottery game for first time and NC prize leaves her in disbelief. ‘No way’."
