Grandfather stops for NC lottery ticket before trip to Florida. It paid off big time

A grandfather stopped for a North Carolina lottery ticket before his trip to Florida — and it paid off big time.

The Raleigh-area man hit the jackpot in the Cash 5 drawing game, sparking a burst of emotions.

“It was exuberance,” William Nettles told the N.C. Education Lottery in a July 22 news release. “I was sitting in my car right in front of the beach when I checked the numbers.”

Nettles scored a $110,000 prize after he went to Whiteys Country Store in Fuquay-Varina, southwest from Raleigh. He spent $1 on a lottery ticket as he was preparing to drive to Florida to go fishing and see relatives.

It turns out, Nettles’ ticket matched all the numbers picked in the July 12 drawing. He rushed to tell his best friend and dad that he won big.

“I’ve been through a lot lately but I believe good things do happen to good people,” Nettles said, per the release.

The jackpot winner kept $78,651 after taxes. Now, he hopes to buy a generator and help his granddaughters.

“Those girls mean the world to me,” Nettles told lottery officials.

Nettles bought his ticket at a lucky time for North Carolina lottery players . Two other tickets sold the weekend of July 12 were worth six figures, McClatchy News reported.

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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