Stepdad’s advice leads NC lottery player to a huge prize. ‘Couldn’t believe it’

A lottery player followed his stepdad’s advice — and it led him to a huge jackpot prize.

“I had bought one ticket that didn’t win but my stepdad told me the next one is going to be a winner,” Joshua Buck told the North Carolina Education Lottery. “So I bought one more.”

It turns out, Buck’s latest scratch-off ticket “proved his stepdad right.” It was worth $100,000, money that he hopes to spend on a new truck, lottery officials wrote in a Sept. 24 news release.

“I really and truly couldn’t believe it ,” the winner said.

Buck hit the jackpot after he stopped at Twin Rivers Fuel Market in New Bern, a roughly 115-mile drive southeast from Raleigh. While there, he spent $30 on his lucky ticket for the Supreme 7s game.

Buck, who lives in Williamston, kept $71,509 after taxes.

It’s not the first time a piece of advice has led someone to a windfall. In Maryland, a woman listened to her friend’s lottery recommendation and ended up richer, McClatchy News reported Sept. 13.

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.

Powerball player learns he won in middle of night — then ‘barely got any sleep’

Should lottery winner buy a house or a truck? Turns out NC man has enough for both

UPS driver makes ‘spur-of-the-moment’ decision to buy lottery ticket. He hits jackpot