Powerball player’s persistence finally pays off with huge NC prize: ‘It blew my mind’

A North Carolina lottery player never misses a chance to play Powerball, and his dedication paid off in a big way.

“It blew my mind,” Joey Reece told the North Carolina Education Lottery of his $1 million win .

Reece, a resident of Valdese, netted the life-changing prize after he matched five numbers but not the Powerball in the drawing Saturday, Sept. 21, according to lottery officials.

He purchased his winning ticket from a Jack B Quick store in Granite Falls, officials said in a news release.

Reece claimed his winnings at lottery headquarters on Monday, Sept. 24, and took home $715,001 after taxes.

The North Carolina man said he plans to put his prize money to use to help his family and others who are in need. He’ll also invest a portion of his winnings.

“This is really going to help my family,” Reece told the North Carolina Education Lottery. “This is going to be a blessing.”

The next Powerball drawing is Sept. 25 with an estimated $223 million jackpot.

Valdese is about a 70-mile drive northwest from Charlotte.

Powerball player wins $1 million in North Carolina. Where was the lucky ticket sold?

What to know about Powerball

To score the jackpot in the Powerball , a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.

The odds of scoring the jackpot prize are 1 in 292,201,338.

Tickets can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times and price vary by state.

Drawings are broadcast Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed online .

Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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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