News writer
A North Carolina man says he had to splash a little water on his face to make sure he wasn't dreaming, but the numbers didn't lie. What started as a quiet night at home turned into one he'll never forget after a routine ticket check brought an unbelievable surprise.
The winner thought he was dreaming
Ray Walker of Gastonia couldn't believe what he was seeing. He also couldn't help but scream after learning his $1 Cash 5 ticket from the North Carolina Lottery had just won him a $1.02 million jackpot.
Walker told lottery officials, “I hollered and jumped up and down.” He then said he “let out a big old yell."
Walker bought his Quick Pick ticket for the Tuesday, October 21, 2025, drawing at Kingsway, located at 2529 East Ozark Avenue in Gastonia. However, he didn't check his ticket to see if it was a winner until after midnight on Wednesday morning.
That is when the shock took over. He joked with lottery officials, “I had to wet my face a little bit to make sure I wasn't dreaming.”
Needless to say, it was a sleepless night for the jackpot winner.
Walker made his way to lottery headquarters and said, “I only slept an hour last night. I'm numb.”
Biggest jackpot win since August 2024
While we have seen 39 jackpot wins so far in 2025, none of them have made their way to the $1 million mark. That is, until this jackpot was won by Walker.
The odds of matching all five of the winning balls for the Cash 5 game in North Carolina are 1 in 962,598. Walker beat those odds to win the $1.02 million jackpot. This is the first time since August 2024 that the Cash 5 jackpot has made its way past $1 million.
Walker claimed his prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After the required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $733,856.
Walker told lottery officials, “This couldn't have come at a better time.”
Now that he has the winnings in his hand, Walker said he plans on putting this money in the bank. He may treat himself to a trip to Florida to visit family.
Taking care of mom after the big win
Over in Kenly, a lucky woman won $100,000 on a scratch-off ticket and is now planning on helping out her mom with the winnings.
Schuprell Hinnant bought a $30 MAX-A-MILLION ticket from Papa Jack's Store, located on N.C. 42 West in Kenly. After scratching the ticket, she could barely believe her eyes.
She told lottery officials, “I called my mom and said, 'I think I won.' She was in disbelief.”
Her mom is going to be in even more disbelief once she hears what Hinnant plans on doing with the money. She made her way to lottery headquarters to claim her prize and took home $71,758 after state and federal tax withholdings.
Now that she has the money, she said she plans on helping her mom get a screened-in porch for her house.
Enjoy playing the North Carolina Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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