Woman stops for gas, leaves with 6-figure lottery prize: 'It felt so unreal'

USA Today

22-05-2025

Woman stops for gas, leaves with 6-figure lottery prize: 'It felt so unreal' Natalie Vega stopped at a gas station in Archdale, North Carolina, and decided to buy a $5 scratch-off Prize Link Multiplier ticket. She said she couldn't believe her eyes at first.
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Lottery ticket, worth $100,000, found in man's trash
A South Carolina man reportedly claimed a $100,000 lottery prize with a ticket he'd fished out of the trash.
GeoBeats
A North Carolina woman's stop for gas turned into a windfall of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, lottery officials said.
Natalie Vega of Asheboro won the $200,000 top prize after buying a $5 scratch-off Prize Link Multiplier ticket from Zingo Express on North Main Street in Archdale, just southeast of Winston-Salem.
'It felt so unreal,' Vega recalled to North Carolina lottery officials. 'It's just overwhelming.'
Natalie Vega chose winning lottery ticket at random
Vega said that it was her first time buying that particular lottery ticket, telling officials: 'I like to just pick random ones.' This was her biggest lottery win ever.
'I've only ever won a couple dollars,' Vega said, per lottery officials. 'I think $20 is the biggest before this.'
After scratching off the ticket, it took Vega some time to fully process the big win.
'I had to read the instructions on the ticket like 10 times, just to make sure I was looking at it right," she said.
How much of winnings did Natalie Vega take home?
On May 21, Vega went to lottery headquarters in Raleigh to collect her winnings, which, after required state and federal tax withholdings, totaled $143,501. The Prize Link Multiplier game debuted in April with five $200,000 top prizes. Three $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed, according to lottery officials.
Vega said she plans to use her winnings to buy some land and invest.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.