A “fake” lottery ticket was really real, and it won a man from North Carolina a huge amount of money.
He told the N.C. Education Lottery, “At first I thought it was a fake ticket.” “I did not believe it.”
When Howard learned that his ticket was worth $200,000, he became skeptical. Police said in a news release on September 23 that he won the first of nine big prizes in the new Mega Bucks scratch-off game.
Howard said, “The first thing I did was put it in the safe.”
Howard made sure his ticket was safe after going to the R-Mart in Albertson, which is about an 80-mile drive southeast of Raleigh. At the gas station, he bought his lucky Mega Bucks ticket for $5.
Howard kept $143,001 after taxes. He is from Seven Springs, which is close by. He wants to “splurge a little bit” now and also pay off his truck and home payments.
People who win prizes often can’t believe their good fortune. An August story from McClatchy News said that another lottery player in Maryland “thought it was fake” when the numbers on his ticket matched those drawn in a drawing.
A lot of people can bet or play games of chance without getting hurt. Some people, though, become addicted to gaming and lose their families and lives as a result.
If you or someone you care about is showing signs of being addicted to gaming, you can get help by calling 1-800-522-4700 or going to the website for the National Council on Problem gaming.