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A North Carolina man is in disbelief after scoring a "crazy" lottery win last week in a newly-launched game.
Juan Garcia, of Stokesdale, recently picked up a $5 ticket in the Triple Red 777's game, which debuted earlier this month, at the Compare Foods on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem, according to a release from the NC Education Lottery. Garcia told lottery officials he was already having a great month and wanted to see if his positive streak would continue, and lucky for him it did as he scratched off the ticket and learned he won the game's first $200,000 prize.
"I was scratching it and I'm like, 'That can't be right.' It was crazy," he said, adding that he had to share the exciting news with his dad, whom he called his "confidante." "My dad said, 'You've got some serious luck.'"
Garcia claimed his prize at lottery headquarters on Friday (July 19), taking home an impressive $143,001 after all required state and federal tax withholdings. According to lottery officials, he plans to use his winnings to pay some bills and share with his family.
"I've already had a great month with some stuff in my personal life," he said. "Now my finances are great too."
The Triple Red 777's game launched in July with five top prizes of $200,000. Following Garcia's win, four prizes remain to be claimed.