A Powerball ticket that matched all five white balls in Monday’s drawing was sold at a small gas-and-grocery in Dover, and that lucky slip of paper turned a $1 million prize into a $2 million payout. State lottery officials have confirmed the win, and the sudden cash splash has put fresh attention on the tiny Craven County community. The winner has not stepped into the spotlight, but the sale is already pulling in extra customers and plenty of curiosity to the store where the ticket was bought.
According to The Charlotte Observer, the ticket was purchased at JD Gas & Grocery on N.C. 55 in Dover. Lottery officials say the ticket matched all five white balls in Monday’s drawing, and the player paid for the Power Play option, which doubled the usual $1 million Match 5 prize to $2 million. The lottery has not released the identity of the ticket-holder.
How Power Play Works
Powerball’s Power Play feature lets players multiply non-jackpot prizes for an extra $1 per play, and a Match 5 winner who bought Power Play walks away with $2 million instead of the standard $1 million, according to Powerball. The odds of matching all five white balls are about 1 in 11.6 million, while the odds of hitting the full jackpot by matching all five white balls plus the red Powerball are roughly 1 in 292.2 million. Match 5 wins are rare, but they tend to show up during long jackpot runs that generate several big non-jackpot payouts along the way.
Small Town, Big Moment
Dover, roughly a 90-mile drive southeast of downtown Raleigh and home to about 350 residents, now joins the list of North Carolina retailers that have sold millionaire-making tickets, The Charlotte Observer reported. The state lottery says winners have 180 days to claim prizes, so whoever is holding the ticket has time to decide how and when to come forward, including whether to take a lump-sum cash option or another payout structure. In the meantime, the store that sold the ticket can expect a short-lived bump in customers and attention as the claim clock ticks.
What’s Next
State lottery officials said the Powerball jackpot will climb to $101 million for Wednesday’s drawing, with a cash option of about $46 million. That gives players in North Carolina another shot at the big prize while a new local millionaire waits in the wings. The lottery’s website and regional offices outline the rules for claiming and can walk winners through tax questions and payout choices.
Claiming Advice
Lottery officials generally urge winners to sign the back of their ticket, keep it in a safe place, and contact the North Carolina Education Lottery before making any major moves. The lottery’s regional offices handle prize claims and can explain the differences between lump-sum and annuity options. Many local winners also check in with financial and legal advisers before going public. Store owners and employees, meanwhile, usually brace for a brief wave of extra customers and media interest after selling a big winner.
