Lucky ticket! Durham man spends $10, wins $1 million prize

Imagine taking a chance on a $10 ticket and winning $1 million in a scratch-off lottery game.

That's exactly what happened to Alfred Anthony of Durham when he played the Hamilton scratch-off game, buying a lucky ticket from the Foust Corner Market on East Center Street in Mebane.

When Anthony arrived at lottery headquarters Friday to collect his prize, he had a decision to make: He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000.

He chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $427,503.

The Hamilton game debuted in September 2022 with four $1 million top prizes.

One $1 million prize remains to be claimed.

Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise $2.5 million a day on average for education.