Pittsboro, NC – An ordinary trip to the grocery store turned into a $1 million win for Victor Harrington of Pittsboro after he decided to play Platinum 7’s instead of his normal Pick 3.
“I only scratched two numbers before I realized I won,” Harrington said. “All I could say was ‘Oh my God,’ I’m still in shock.”
Reality set in as Harrington claimed the prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. Harrington chose the lump sum, and after federal and state tax withholdings received $415,503. He plans to use the money to buy a house.
He bought the $10 lucky ticket at Neal’s Gas & Convenience on East Street in Pittsboro.
Platinum 7’s launched in October with four top prizes of $1 million. Two top prizes remain.
Ticket sales from games like Platinum 7’s made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how more than $22.4 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Chatham County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.
For prizes greater than $5,000, 25% federal tax and 5.75% state tax are automatically withheld.