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A North Carolina man took a cue from his friend to try out a new scratch-off lottery game and ended up winning big when he scored one of the game's massive top prizes.
Melvin Brooks, of Stanley, stopped by the Circle A Food Store on North Main Street in Mount Holly on Saturday (June 8) where he picked up a $5 ticket in the $400,000 Jackpot game, according to a release from the NC Education Lottery.
"I saw a friend's post that he won $100 on that scratch-off so I decided to try it," he said.
And it's a good thing, too, as he quickly found out that he landed the first of the newly-launched game's $400,000 top prizes. He told lottery officials he was with his cousin when he scratched off the ticket to reveal his win and they ended up going out to celebrate.
"It's not every day that you win $400,000," he said.
Brooks claimed his prize at lottery headquarters on Monday (June 10), taking home a total of $286,001 after all required state and federal tax withholdings. He told lottery officials that he plans to use his new funds to pay off his mortgage as well as help his wife and daughters.
According to the lottery website, the $400,000 Jackpot game debuted in April with five top prizes of $400,000. Following Brooks' win, four prizes remain to be claimed.