A Winston-Salem couple says a simple “lucky coin” turned a $10 gamble into a $1 million top prize on the new Loteria Multiplier scratch-off. Christy and Jeffrey Pinckney bought the ticket Wednesday at Snak's convenience store on Old Lexington Road, then headed to Raleigh the next day to cash in at lottery headquarters. They chose the $600,000 lump-sum payout option and, after taxes, each walked away with about $216,031. The couple said they plan to put the windfall toward a new home and a car for their daughter.
New Game, Steep Odds
The N.C. Education Lottery rolled out Loteria Multiplier on March 3 as a $10 scratch-off featuring four $1 million top prizes and overall odds of about 1 in 3.63 million. The ticket combines two playing boards with a multiplier spot, giving players several ways to win on a single play.
A Lucky Coin and a Heart-Stopping Reveal
Christy Pinckney told the Charlotte Observer she scratched the ticket with her “lucky coin” and “about had a heart attack” when she realized what she was looking at. The Pinckneys then took the ticket to lottery officials in Raleigh to have it verified and claim the prize, according to the Observer.
Payout Choices and the Fine Print
Game details from the N.C. Education Lottery show winners can choose between a $50,000-a-year annuity for 20 years or a one-time lump sum, listed at $600,000 before taxes. That choice, combined with federal and state tax withholdings, explains why the checks that winners actually take home are significantly smaller than the advertised $1 million top prize.
How They’ll Use the Money
According to the Charlotte Observer, the Pinckneys split the lump sum and each received roughly $216,031 after taxes. They said they plan to put the money toward buying a new home and purchasing a car for their daughter after claiming the prize this week at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.
For now, the couple says they are taking their time as they work through paperwork and map out what comes next. Their win is a fresh reminder that newly released scratch-offs can still deliver the kind of life-changing payout most players only daydream about.
