For Ruth O'Neal Allen of Cary, a routine stop for a scratch-off ticket turned into a six-figure surprise when her $30 Cash Payday ticket revealed a $100,000 top prize. After the thrill settled and the tax math kicked in, she left with $72,018 in hand following state and federal withholdings.
Allen bought the lucky ticket at Trinity Park Family Fare on West Main Street in Durham, then headed to North Carolina Education Lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Thursday to make everything official. According to ABC11, her final payout mirrors what other recent six-figure instant-ticket winners have taken home once the mandatory withholdings are subtracted from a $100,000 win.
About the Cash Payday Game
The North Carolina Education Lottery launched the $100,000 Cash Payday instant game in March as a $30 ticket that features 80 top prizes worth $100,000 statewide. Lottery prize-tracker totals still list dozens of those top prizes as unclaimed, a sign that the game has already produced multiple six-figure winners in a relatively short window while plenty of big-money tickets remain in circulation.
Not the Only Big Winner This Spring
Allen is joining a growing club. Since Cash Payday hit the market, winners have surfaced across North Carolina, with the game’s first $100,000 top prize reported in March. That early payout set the tone for the rollout, and Port City Daily and other outlets have highlighted similar six-figure wins tied to the new ticket.
How to Claim, and What to Bring
For anyone who thinks they might be holding a serious winner, the lottery’s advice starts with a pen. Sign the back of the ticket, then follow the official claim steps. The NC Education Lottery's claim page notes that prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed in person at lottery headquarters in Raleigh, and winners are required to bring a photo ID and proof of Social Security number.
Winners like Allen typically use their trip to Raleigh to finish paperwork and decide how to receive any allowable payments, and for many scratch-off top-prize claimants the net amount after withholdings ends up close to the $72,018 she accepted. Stores that sell winning tickets sometimes mark the moment with their own small celebrations, but lottery officials consistently urge players to keep winning tickets secure and to verify any major prize through official channels before sharing personal information.
