RALEIGH — A Charlotte woman won the first $277,740 top prize in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s $200,000 Taxes Paid scratch-off game.
Jennifer Couret bought the winning $5 ticket at the QuikTrip on Central Avenue in east Charlotte.
Couret claimed her prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters. After state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $200,000.
The $200,000 Taxes Paid scratch-off game debuted this month featuring three top prizes of $277,740. Following Couret’s win, two top prizes remain available in the game. The odds of winning a top prize are 1 in 1.69 million.
Lottery proceeds support public education initiatives throughout North Carolina. Mecklenburg County received over $60 million in state funding from the lottery last year for educational programs.
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