Brunswick County Man Wins $200,000 North Carolina Lottery Prize

John Watson of Ash, North Carolina, recently won the $200,000 top prize in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s new scratch-off game, 5 Times Lucky, becoming the first person to claim this prize since the game's launch. Watson, who purchased his winning ticket at the Scotchman store in Shallotte, collected $143,501 after taxes at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. His wife, Lois, described the win as 'just the icing on the cake' following his smooth recovery from heart surgery a few weeks earlier. Watson plans to use the winnings for additional healthcare expenses and possibly to buy a new truck. The lottery has raised more than $6 million to support education programs in Brunswick County, and four more top prizes remain in the game. This story highlights both Watson's fortunate win and the impact of the lottery on local education funding.