A $2 Powerball ticket sold in Warrenton has turned into a $1 million payday, while another lucky ticket from the Smithfield area of Johnston County is worth $200,000. With no jackpot winner in Saturday's drawing, the multi-state Powerball prize has now swelled even higher for next week.
Where the winning tickets were bought
According to ABC11, the $1 million ticket was sold at Tobacco Plus on East Macon Street in Warrenton. The $200,000 ticket was sold at the Speedway on North Brightleaf Boulevard in Smithfield.
Both winning tickets matched all five white balls in Saturday night's drawing, according to lottery reporting, a feat that instantly turned two ordinary stops for gas or cigarettes into the backdrop of big-money wins.
How winners can claim
North Carolina winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes. Claims for larger awards must be started online but then finished in person, per the North Carolina Education Lottery.
For prizes of $100,000 or more, the lottery directs winners to NCEL headquarters to complete the claim process. Officials also advise players to sign the back of any winning ticket right away to protect it, then keep it somewhere safe until they are ready to start the claim.
Jackpot keeps climbing
Powerball's official site lists no jackpot winner from Saturday's drawing and posts an estimated $633 million jackpot for Monday's draw, with a $277.3 million cash option, according to Powerball.
The same results show multiple Match 5 $1 million winners across several states, including North Carolina, from Saturday's numbers.
Odds and perspective
Matching all five white balls, the tier that produced the $1 million prize in Warrenton, comes with odds of roughly 1 in 11.6 million, the North Carolina Education Lottery notes. By comparison, hitting the full Powerball jackpot is far more remote, with odds near 1 in 292.2 million.
If you think you are holding a winning ticket, sign the back, keep it secure, and contact the lottery or visit a claims center. Winners have a 180-day window to submit claims, so it might be worth digging that ticket out of your wallet or junk drawer and checking the numbers sooner rather than later.
