What started as a simple fuel stop in Gastonia turned into a life-changing payday for Kahla Jeffries, who turned her first-ever scratch-off ticket into a $100,000 top prize. The $30 instant ticket delivered a six-figure win on the spot, and after required state and federal tax withholdings, she will walk away with $71,018. Jeffries said she already has two big plans for the money: buying a car and putting the rest toward school.
First ticket, big surprise
Jeffries told lottery officials she had to do a double take after scratching the ticket, saying she “didn’t think I was looking at it right.” She had picked up the ticket at Wills Food Store in Gastonia while stopping in for gas, then later claimed her prize, according to WBTV.
The Cash Payday game
The lucky ticket came from the North Carolina Education Lottery’s $100,000 "Cash Payday" instant game, a $30 scratch-off that launched in March with 80 top prizes statewide. Since its debut, the game has been steadily turning out multiple six-figure winners, with many of those top prizes still waiting to be claimed, as reported by WTVD.
Where the money goes
While Jeffries gets a major personal payday, the lottery itself is pitched as a win for local schools. Proceeds from ticket sales are earmarked for education across North Carolina, and Gaston County alone received about $14.2 million in education program support in fiscal 2025, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Net payout and next steps
After state and federal withholdings were taken out, Jeffries collected a final payout of $71,018. She told lottery officials she plans to put the cash to practical use, starting with buying a car and then saving the rest for school, WBTV reported. That take-home figure tracks closely with what other recent six-figure scratch-off winners have received.
More winners across North Carolina
Jeffries is far from alone in getting a big surprise at the counter. The Cash Payday game has been on a roll, producing six-figure winners in pockets across the state in recent months. One recent example was a Wake County player whose spur-of-the-moment ticket purchase turned into another $100,000 haul, detailed in Cary Man’s Quick Scratch.
