North Carolina resident scores $200K from a $5 scratch-off ticket

A Greenville resident decided to take a chance on the $5 Wheel of Fortune ticket, introduced by the North Carolina Education Lottery on July 3, 2026. This man from Pitt County purchased his ticket at the Chill Stop Express 2 on Charles Boulevard in Greenville. Defying odds of 1 in 1,112,016, he won the first $200,000 top prize. Earlier this week, he went to the North Carolina Education Lottery headquarters to claim his prize, which amounted to $144,000 after taxes. He didn't mention any specific plans for his windfall. In Pitt County, where he lives, the North Carolina Education Lottery contributed $10.7 million to education programs in 2025. Across the state, the lottery supports over 100 counties, providing essential funding for educational and social programs.

After making its debut in early July, the Wheel of Fortune originally offered five top prizes worth $200,000 each. With a recent win, four of these top prizes are now left. The $5 scratch-off also features tier-two prizes of $10,000, with eight out of ten still available. The odds of snagging a tier-two prize are 1 in 556,008. For tier-three, the ticket offers a $2,000 prize, with winning odds at 1 in 278,004, and 16 out of 20 of these rewards are still up for grabs. In the lower prize tiers, the $5 scratch-off presents a range of winnings from $500 to $5. The overall chance of winning any prize is 1 in 4.31.