News writer
A routine purchase turned into a life-changing moment for one North Carolina woman who discovered that sometimes the biggest treasures can come from the smallest investments. Man Yo of New Bern made lottery history with what might be the most profitable click of her life.
New Bern player claims record-breaking digital win
Man Yo struck digital gold when her $2 Monopoly digital instant ticket revealed a staggering $6,745,117 jackpot win on April 8. This marks the largest digital instant prize in North Carolina lottery history since these games launched in November 2023.
After claiming her prize at lottery headquarters on Tuesday and accounting for required federal and state tax withholdings, Yo took home $4,839,622.
What makes this win particularly remarkable? The odds were a daunting 1 in 25 million.
How digital instants are changing the game
Digital instant games represent one of the North Carolina Education Lottery's newest offerings, allowing players to try their luck online through the lottery's website or official mobile app. Unlike traditional scratch-offs that require a store visit, these digital games offer the convenience of playing anywhere with an internet connection.
These digital innovations have proven highly successful. Their introduction, along with popular higher price-point tickets and themed "family" game releases, helped the North Carolina Education Lottery surpass $5 billion in annual sales for the first time in its existence. This milestone achievement led to a record net revenue of over $1.09 billion directed toward education initiatives.
The Monopoly game that delivered Yo's windfall is particularly noteworthy as the first multi-state digital instant game offered in both North Carolina and Virginia. This cross-state participation means jackpots grow faster as players from both states contribute to the prize pool.
After Yo's win, the Monopoly jackpot reset to $150,000 and has already climbed to over $868,000 as of Wednesday morning.
Digital win trend continues nationwide
Yo's win joins a recent streak of digital lottery successes across the country:
A Scotland County woman claimed a $780,794 digital instant jackpot on April 17 after playing a $5 Magic Winnings Vegas game. Misty Bridges of Wagram beat odds of 1 in 12.9 million and took home $560,222 after taxes.
Meanwhile, traditional scratch tickets continue delivering major wins as well:
- A Genesee County, Michigan man won $1 million on a $10 scratch-off during a routine coffee stop
- An Arkansas player won $200,000 after his wife won $50 on the same game the previous day
- A Plymouth, Massachusetts man claimed a $1 million prize and plans to purchase a boat with his winnings
Lottery funds benefit local education
Craven County, where the record win occurred, stands to benefit from lottery proceeds beyond just creating an overnight millionaire. A $15.2 million grant using lottery funds will help build a new middle school in the county.
Since its inception, the North Carolina Education Lottery has contributed more than $11.3 billion to education programs statewide, with fiscal year 2024 seeing the lottery surpass $5 billion in annual sales for the first time.
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