- Casino
- By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- By State
- Slots
- Poker
- Sports
- Esports
Fact-checked by Velimir Velichkov
Man Wins $1M on Lotto Ticket with $20 Bill Found in Parking Lot
A master carpenter from a town in North Carolina has won $1 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket with a $20 bill he found in the parking lot of a convenience store

On Tuesday, Jerry Hicks, a master carpenter from Banner Elk, North Carolina, visited a Speedway convenience store in Boone, unaware that the gods of fortune were smiling upon him.
He randomly discovered a $20 bill in the parking lot of the convenience store and decided to use it to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket.
To his surprise, the $25 ticket brought him a whopping $1 million prize.
“They Actually Didn’t Have the Ticket I Was Looking For”
Hicks chose an Extreme Cash scratch-off ticket as the store he had entered didn’t have the ticket he initially wanted.
“They actually didn’t have the ticket I was looking for so I bought that one instead,” he remarked.
The small hiccup had the best turnaround for the lotto player, as he scratched off the ticket and was flabbergasted to learn that he had won.
The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 2,017,650, whereas the overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 4.21, according to official information from the lottery.
He Opted for the Lump Sum
The lucky man claimed his prize on Friday at the North Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters, opting for a lump sum payment of $600,000 instead of an annuity spread over 20 years.
After taxes, his take-home amount was $429,007, according to the lottery.
Hicks, a master carpenter with an impressive 56-year-long career, has a couple of things in mind after Lady Luck’s visit: to retire and to use the money to help his children.
However, before putting any big plans into action, the winner first plans to celebrate his victory together with his family.
“We are going to head straight to Golden Corral and eat everything they’ve got,” he told lottery officials.
Extreme Cash scratch-off tickets can be purchased in person at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and some airport terminals.
Earlier in the month, we reported on the extremely fortunate player from Davidson County who won $4 million from the North Carolina Lottery’s Supreme 7s scratch-off game.
In September, an incredibly lucky player from Oxford, NC who had previously won a jackpot of roughly $500,000 in July, hit another jackpot of $161,534.
Last week, a Floyd resident won a hefty $100,000 prize from one of the Virginia Lottery’s scratch-off games. Another man from the same town in Virginia scooped up a $245,000 win from a Cash 5 game.
Related Topics:
After finishing her master's in publishing and writing, Melanie began her career as an online editor for a large gaming blog and has now transitioned over towards the iGaming industry. She helps to ensure that our news pieces are written to the highest standard possible under the guidance of senior management.
Previous Article
Lottery
October 28, 2024
Casino Mogul Advised Donald Trump on Key Staff Appointment
Must Read
Lottery
October 13, 2025
Mega Millions Jackpot Eludes Players, Reaches $600M
Lottery
October 13, 2025
Florida Man Heists Lottery Shop, Tries to Cash in Tickets
Lottery
October 13, 2025
Australian Man Secures $534K Jackpot, Wins the Gold Lotto Draw
More Articles
Sports
October 19, 2025
Betting on the Rise Among High Schoolers in New York
Industry
October 17, 2025
iGaming Discussions in Virginia Continue as Bill Is Put on Hold
Lottery
October 17, 2025
Ontario Woman Stunned by CAD 1M Lottery Win
Lottery
October 17, 2025
Massachusetts Trust Claims $4M 100X Grand Prize
Sports
October 17, 2025
BetMGM Extends and Expands Pittsburgh Steelers Sponsorship
Lottery
October 17, 2025
Arkansas Lottery Says $1.33M Lottery Ticket Sold
Business
October 16, 2025
PrizePicks Secures License to Operate Fantasy Sports in New York
Sports
October 16, 2025
Greyhound Racing on the Chopping Block as Per New Federal Bill
Lottery
October 16, 2025
Lotteritilsynet Upholds $993K Fine Against Norsk Tipping
Casino
October 16, 2025
OYO Hotel & Casino Las Vegas May Be Shuttering Its Table Games
Business
October 16, 2025
MGM Resorts to Sell MGM Northfield Park for $546M