Last Updated on May 6, 2026 11:37 am
Jeremy Mercer of Boone tried his luck on a digital instant game on Friday and won a $200,000 top prize.
He won his big prize on a $5 play in the 20 Years Celebration game. The odds of that win were 1 in 8 million.
He claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $144,021.
In the 20 Years Celebration digital instant game, a player can play from 50 cents to $20. Digital instant games are played exclusively online on the lottery’s website or on the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Seventy-three different games are available to play online now.
Education programs in Watauga County received $2.7 million in support from lottery funds last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.
