Lottery player tries luck on $2 ticket. Then came a ‘surreal and exciting’ win in NC

A North Carolina lottery player tried his luck on a $2 ticket — then came a “surreal and exciting” win.

“We are still in shock right now,” Shannon Murphy told the N.C. Education Lottery as he claimed his prize. “We didn’t believe it until we got here.”

Murphy was left in disbelief when he discovered his ticket was worth $25,000 a year. Now that reality is sinking in, the Raleigh man hopes to invest his prize money, buy a car and help people in need.

“I want to give to a good cause,” Murphy told lottery officials in a July 15 news release. “It’s good karma to give back to those who need it.”

Murphy hit the jackpot after stopping at a Food Lion grocery store in Raleigh. While at the supermarket on Leesville Road, he spent $2 on a ticket for the Lucky for Life game .

It turns out, Murphy’s ticket matched five of six numbers picked in the June 27 drawing.

“This is very surreal and exciting,” said Murphy, who beat 1-in-1.8 million odds to win big.

Murphy had the option of taking his prize as yearly payments of $25,000 or in a lump sum of $390,000. He chose the lump sum option and kept $278,850 after taxes.

North Carolina lottery officials have told McClatchy News it’s “pretty rare” for players to take the annual payments, though at least one recent winner decided to do so.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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