Lottery player tries luck on $10 scratcher — and NC prize leaves her ‘in a daze’
A North Carolina woman has her sights set on her “dream car” after snagging a million-dollar lottery prize.
Pamela Noel of Garner was left speechless by the $1 million win after initially thinking she’d only won $2,000 on the $1,000,000 Cashword scratch-off game, according to a May 27 news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Noel told lottery officials it wasn’t until she claimed her prize that she realized she was a big winner.
“It was mind blowing,” she told officials. “I am still in a daze.”
Lottery officials didn’t say where Noel purchased the winning ticket, which cost $10. She beat odds of 1 in 1,210,185 to take home the top prize, according to the lottery’s website.
Noel claimed her winnings May 23 and chose a lump sump payout of $600,000, taking home $430,503 after taxes, lottery officials said.
“That is awesome,” she told officials after receiving her check.
Noel said she plans to pay a few bills and buy her dream car: a Hyundai Genesis, according to the lottery.
Two top prizes worth $1 million are still up for grabs in the $1,000,000 Cashword game, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Garner is a less than 10-mile drive south from downtown Raleigh.
This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Lottery player tries luck on $10 scratcher — and NC prize leaves her ‘in a daze’."