‘Happily shocked’: $1 ticket turns into big prize for North Carolina lottery player
A $1 lottery ticket turned into a big prize — leaving a North Carolina man “happily shocked.”
Now, winner Cedric Bass hopes to use some of his prize money to help his sister, according to the N.C. Education Lottery.
“I think I’m going to buy her a motorized wheelchair,” he said in a Jan. 11 news release.
Bass experienced the lucky moment after visiting a Han-Dee Hugo’s convenience store in Kannapolis, roughly 25 miles northeast of Charlotte. While at the store’s North Cannon Boulevard location, officials said he spent $1 on a ticket for the Cash 5 game.
Then in a Jan. 6 drawing, Bass’ ticket matched enough numbers to hit the jackpot, beating nearly one-in-a-million odds. Another player also won, meaning the two had to split the $364,146 prize, according to the N.C. Education Lottery.
Bass said he called his brother and sister with news about the six-figure win, but they weren’t sold.
“They didn’t believe me,” Bass said in the news release. “I had to keep telling them.”
Bass’ win was the real deal, and his portion of the prize totaled $182,073. Bass, a Cabarrus County resident, kept $129,728 after taxes.
It’s not the first time a North Carolina lottery winner had dreams of helping a family member.
In 2021, officials said a truck driver wanted to buy a house for his mom after scoring $10 million. A year later, another lucky player hoped to spoil his family for Christmas, McClatchy News reported.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 11:09 AM with the headline "‘Happily shocked’: $1 ticket turns into big prize for North Carolina lottery player."
