CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman won $200,000 after purchasing a $5 dollar scratch-off ticket on a whim.
Lottery officials said Melissa Corano-Juarez bought her Ice scratch-off at the Raceway Amoco on Lyles Lane in Concord.
“I was thinking maybe I was going to win $50, $100,” she said.
Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. If you are concerned about your gambling or worried about a friend, you can call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543. You can also contact the National Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
When she got home and checked the ticket, she found a much bigger prize.
“I just scratched it off and it said $200,000, so I was just in complete shock,” she said, “I just started shaking and I was really happy.”
She said the big win also shocked her family.
“I told them and they thought I was playing around until I showed them the actual ticket,” she said.
Corano-Juarez visited lottery headquarters in Raleigh Wednesday to collect her prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $142,501. She plans to put the money in savings.
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