Stunned lottery buff wins NC jackpot while experimenting with new game. ‘Hard to beat’
Lester Land III, a 65-year-old lottery aficionado, was floored when he took home the jackpot win in a brand new North Carolina scratch-off.
“I always like buying the new tickets when they come out,” he told lottery officials.
The debut Lincoln scratch-off game won him a $200,000 prize, according to a Sept. 7 news release from the N.C. Education Lottery.
Land bought his $5 ticket at the Xpress Mart in High Point, lottery officials said. He took home $142,021 after taxes.
“That’s hard to beat,” Land told lottery officials.
The New London resident said he planned to use the winnings to buy a Toyota Prius, according to the release.
High Point is about 20 miles southeast of Winston-Salem.
Alison Cutler
mcclatchy-newsroom