‘Thought I Was Playing in Demo Mode’: North Carolina Lottery Winner Hits Jackpot by Accident

Thought I Was Playing in Demo Mode': North Carolina Lottery Winner Hits Jackpot by Accident:

WPBN: The “epic jackpot” award was won by a lottery winner in North Carolina, although it was accomplished by accident.

Alphonzo Oates, a resident of Raleigh, responded to the North Carolina Education Lottery by saying, “I thought I was playing in demo mode.” It came as a complete and utter surprise to me.

Oates was taken aback when he saw that his winnings of $177,749 were genuine. In a press release issued on December 6th, lottery authorities stated that because he gambled on a one dollar ticket for the Wheel of Bonuses game, he ended up becoming increasingly wealthy.

On October 31st, Oates won his win by chance as he was participating in an online game that offered a progressive jackpot. At this point, he has ambitious goals for his daughter.

“I can use this to pay off my daughter’s last year of college,” Oates stated to lottery officials. “That will be her Christmas gift.”

Although the odds were one in thirty-one million, Oates, who enjoys playing Wheel of Bonuses as a way to pass the time, was able to win the game’s top prize. After taxes, he retained a total of $127,092 in his possession.

Millionaire Moment: Florida Man Wins $1 Million from Lottery Scratch-Off!

“I’m glad that my daughter will be able to graduate debt-free,” Oates stated. “It’s a happy moment.”

There have been previous instances in which a lottery winner has intended to provide significant assistance to his daughter. It was reported by McClatchy News in 2023 that another father in North Carolina had the intention of providing his daughter with funds to purchase a new house.

REFERENCE

Avatar photo
Melissa Sarris is a dedicated local news reporter for the West Palm Beach News. She focuses on accuracy and public interest when she covers neighborhood stories, breaking news, and changes in local government. Melissa likes to explore new places and help out at neighborhood events when she's free.