Local

‘I started seeing zeroes’: McDowell County man wins $100K on scratch-off

$20 Win Big ticket (NC EDUCATION LOTTERY)

RALEIGH — Douglas Watkins, of Nebo, said he remembers clearly the exact moment he uncovered a $100,000 lottery prize, according to officials at the N.C. Education Lottery.

“I started seeing zeroes,” he said. “Needless to say, I was extremely excited.”

Watkins said he likes to scratch his tickets in a specific way each time.

“When I scratch, I don’t reveal the prizes at first,” he explained. “I scratch the numbers to see if any match then I go back to check the prize.”

Watkins purchased his lucky $20 Win Big ticket from the Country Market on Dysartsville Road in Morganton. He told his wife right after he won.

“When I went to tell my wife I said, ‘I think I won $100,000,’” Watkins recalled. “She didn’t believe it.”

After taxes, he took home $71,756.

He plans to put most of his winnings in the bank and possibly go on a cruise.

The Win Big game debuted in October with three $2 million top prizes and six $100,000 prizes. Two $2 million prizes and four $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.


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