When Ashley Abee of 51²è¹Ý saw zero after zero appear on his $5 scratch-off ticket, he had trouble believing he just won a $200,000 top prize.
“I saw one zero then another zero then another,†Abee recalled. “I just kept looking at it over and over again.â€
Abee bought his lucky Emerald 8s ticket on Wednesday from the Walmart on North Green Street in 51²è¹Ý.
“It really was overwhelming,†Abee said.
He arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday to claim his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $143,001.
Abee plans to put his winnings into savings.
The Emerald 8s game debuted in December with six $200,000 top prizes. Three $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
People are also reading…
Burke County received a $42 million grant, using money raised by the lottery, to help build a new elementary school. For details on other ways Burke County education programs benefit from lottery funds, visit and click on the “Impact” section.