MATTHEWS, N.C. — A Matthews man woke up early for an appointment and it led to him winning a huge lottery prize.
Andrzej Kielbon said he was waiting for an appointment to get his car fixed when he decided to play a digital lottery game. He scored a $379,747 jackpot on the Bison Bonanza game, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.
"I was getting ready to go to the dealership," Kielbon said. "I woke up a little too early. I would've never played if I didn't get up early."
The odds of winning the $379,747 prize on a $2 ticket are 1 in 15.5 million. Kielbon had to pinch himself to make sure it wasn't a dream.
"I just play for fun," he said. "I didn't think it was real because I was still half asleep."
Kielbon collected his prize at lottery headquarters on Friday. After required federal and state taxes, he took home $271,520. He plans to replace his old car with an electric vehicle and take a trip to Hawaii.
The Bison Bonanza digital game allows players to enter from 50 cents to $30. The North Carolina Education Lottery offers 27 different games on its mobile app and website.
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.