Lottery player tries luck on $10 scratcher — and NC prize leaves her ‘in a daze'
Pamela Noel of Garner was left speechless by the $1 million win after initially thinking she'd only won $2,000 on the $1,000,000 Cashword scratch-off game, according to a May 27 news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Noel told lottery officials it wasn't until she claimed her prize that she realized she was a big winner.
'It was mind blowing,' she told officials. 'I am still in a daze.'
Lottery officials didn't say where Noel purchased the winning ticket, which cost $10. She beat odds of 1 in 1,210,185 to take home the top prize, according to the lottery's website.
Noel claimed her winnings May 23 and chose a lump sump payout of $600,000, taking home $430,503 after taxes, lottery officials said.
'That is awesome,' she told officials after receiving her check.
Noel said she plans to pay a few bills and buy her dream car: a Hyundai Genesis, according to the lottery.
Two top prizes worth $1 million are still up for grabs in the $1,000,000 Cashword game, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Garner is a less than 10-mile drive south from downtown Raleigh.
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