Lottery player’s unique strategy leads to life-changing win in North Carolina. ‘Hard to believe’

A Leland, North Carolina, man netted a life-changing lottery prize with an unconventional approach to picking numbers, officials said.Photo byNorth Carolina Education Lottery

North Carolina Man Wins Big with Unconventional Lottery Method

John Ross, a resident of Leland, North Carolina, struck gold using his unique lottery number-picking strategy: closing his eyes and pointing at random numbers. This method led him to win $25,000 for life in the Lucky for Life game.

Winning Details:

He bought his lucky $2 ticket using Online Play. He won his prize by matching all five white balls in the July 14 drawing.

“The day of the drawing was actually my wife’s birthday,” Ross said. “It’s hard to believe.”

Ross, 56, said he likes to play Lucky for Life the same way each time.

“I always just play one ticket because that’s all it takes to win right?” Ross said.

He claimed his prize at lottery headquarters Friday and had the choice of receiving $25,000 a year for the rest of his life or a $390,000 lump sum. He chose the $390,000 lump sum and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $278,851.

Future Plans:

• Financial Uses: Ross plans to use the winnings to pay bills, donate to charity, and prepare for retirement.

Location:

• Leland: A small town about 10 miles west of downtown Wilmington.

Cautionary Note:

While many enjoy gambling responsibly, it's important to recognize that gambling can become an addiction for some, potentially causing significant harm to lives and families.