CHARLOTTE — Bruce Tipton, of Charlotte, said he had to calm himself down after he won $200,000 from a $5 scratch-off ticket, the N.C. Education Lottery announced in a news release.
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“I was honestly too scared to drive,” Tipton said. “It took a while before I could stop shaking.”
He bought his lucky Carolina Jackpot ticket from the Circle K on Freedom Drive in west Charlotte.
Tipton, a 41-year-old construction worker, became the first winner of the top prize in the new $5 Carolina Jackpot game.
“When I saw a lot of zeroes on there,” Tipton said, “I knew I won something big.”
“I was actually looking for two other tickets, but they were both sold out so I bought that one instead,” Tipton told lottery officials.
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Tipton collected his prize Thursday from lottery headquarters and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $142,021.
He said he wants to use the prize money to help family members and possibly buy a house that he can fix up.
The $5 Carolina Jackpot game debuted this month with six $200,000 prizes. Five $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
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