News writer
A lucky woman in North Carolina had just hit it big playing the state lottery, and her first thought was her grandchildren.
Picking winners based on color
Rachel Sadler of Lincolnton bought a $30 Supreme 7s scratch-off ticket and ended up winning the top prize of $4 million. Why that ticket?
“It was my first time buying that ticket,” Sadler told lottery officials. “I guess I just liked the blue and white color.”
First time was the charm, as Sadler purchased the winning ticket from Save Mart, located at 603 East main Street in Lincolnton.
After discovering she won the top prize, Sadler said her first thought was her grandchildren.
“I've got a bunch of grandkids,” she joked. “I want to make sure they have a nice future.”
A shocking win
Sadler recently made her way to the North Carolina Lottery Headquarters to collect her winnings. She told lottery officials, “I think I'm still in a state of shock.”
When collecting her winnings, Sadler still had a big decision to make. She could choose to receive the prize as a one-time lump sum payment of $2.4 million (before taxes) or receive it as an annuity of $200,000 over 20 years.
Sadler chose the lump sum option and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $1.72 million.
Supreme 7s is a newer scratch-off game from the North Carolina Lottery, as it debuted in July. The game started with four $4 million top prizes and 10 $100,000 prizes available. After Sadler's win, there are now three $4 million prizes and nine $100,000 prizes remaining to be claimed.
These games are ending soon
While Supreme 7s just debuted in July, the North Carolina Lottery recently announced eight scratch-off games will be ending on Friday, August 23. That means it is time to head out and get these tickets before they are gone!
The scratch-off games ending are:
- $20 ticket - Mega 7's
- $5 tickets - FIRE, Hit $500, Lightning 7's, More Money
- $3 ticket - Bingo Bucks
- $2 ticket - Power 2s
- $1 ticket - Double It!
While there is still time to buy tickets, the big thing to keep in mind is after these games end, you'll only have 90 days to claim any prizes you may have won. That means all prizes from any of the eight games mentioned above must be claimed on or before Thursday, November 21.
Anything under $600 can be claimed at a lottery retailer. Those claims between $600 and $99,999 must be made at one of the six regional claim centers before 5 p.m. ET on November 21. Claims of $100,000 or more must be made at lottery headquarters in Raleigh before 5 p.m. ET on that same day.
If you happen to be mailing in your claim, then it must be received at the office within 90 days of the official end-of-game date. Postmarks will not satisfy the 90-day requirement, so it must be in the office before the 90 days expires.
Enjoy playing the North Carolina Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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