North Carolina man ‘dumbfounded’ by surprise $100,000 second-chance prize

Published 12:08 pm Wednesday, June 30, 2021

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Kent Watkins of Elm City came home one day to a letter notifying him that he was the winner of a Millionaire Maker $100,000 second-chance prize, according to a press release from the North Carolina Education Lottery.

“I was surprised,” he said. “I had to call it up and make sure it was really real. I was dumbfounded that I really won something.”

Watkins’ entry was chosen from 1,319,154 entries in the June 9 drawing. Winners of second-chance drawings receive a phone call, email or letter notifying them that they won.

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“I’ve always entered,” he said. “You never know when you’ll win.”

Watkins claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $70,750.

“There’s things that we need to fix up around the house,” he said of his plans for the prize money.

Two more Millionaire Maker second-chance drawings remain. Each drawing offers one $1 million grand prize, one $100,000 prize and 20 $500 prizes. To enter the drawing, scan the Millionaire Maker ticket’s bar code using the NC Lottery Official Mobile App or enter Millionaire Maker tickets via the lottery’s website.

For information on the impact to North Carolina from lottery funds, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.

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