Man bought NC lottery ticket and forgot about it — then got a big shock days later
When a North Carolina man checked his lottery ticket days after purchasing it, he wasn’t expecting such a big win.
That’s what happened to mechanic Gregory Warren, who won half of a $391,870 Cash 5 jackpot, according to the NC Education Lottery.
It started when he stopped for gas after work and bought a quick-pick ticket, which randomly assigns numbers, from the BP on U.S. 64 East in Asheboro on Sept. 29, according to lottery officials.
“I don’t buy lottery tickets very often,” Warren said in a news release. “It just so happens I picked a good day to buy one!”
He didn’t look at his Cash 5 ticket until Oct. 4, lottery officials said.
“I forgot about it,” Warren told lottery officials. “I’m still kind of shocked. I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep last night. Too much excitement!”
The Franklinville man took home $138,624 after taxes at lottery headquarters Tuesday in Raleigh, according to the release.
Warren hopes to use his earnings to change careers, lottery officials said.
“I think I’m going into business for myself mowing yards,” Warren said in the release. “I’ve got a 14-year-old son and I wanna get a business started so that he’ll have something to do when he graduates from high school.”
Warren’s lottery ticket was one of two that split the cash prize, according to the lottery service. The second half of the jackpot went to Danielle Godette of New Bern.
Cash 5 is one of four lottery games where players have the choice of buying tickets via online play or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App, according to the lottery service.
Tickets are $1 and drawings take place every night — with Thursday’s jackpot totaling $215,000, the lottery service said. The odds of winning are 1 in 962,598, according to lottery officials.
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 October 7, 2021 at 12:21 PM with the headline "Man bought NC lottery ticket and forgot about it — then got a big shock days later."
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