Second Chance, Big Win: Raleigh Resident Scores $1 Million

A Raleigh man thought his lottery ticket was a dud—but a surprise second chance changed everything. ?

Ray Abbott couldn’t believe his luck when he found out he had won $1 million in the Merry Million Second Chance drawing run by the North Carolina Education Lottery.

“This is wild,” Abbott said. “My wife is at home freaking out!”

How It Happened

Every Christmas, Abbott gives scratch-off tickets to his family as a fun tradition. Instead of tossing the losing ones, he uploaded them to his lottery account—which automatically entered him into the drawing.

And then… boom. ? One ticket hit big.

Why This Win Was Huge

• ? Top prize: $1 million

• ? Beat over 35 million entries

• ? Took home $432,060 after taxes (lump sum)

• ? Claimed his prize on February 13

Two others won $25,000, and 10 more walked away with $5,000—but Abbott grabbed the top spot.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m still in shock,” he said.

What’s Next?

Abbott already has plans to use his winnings to treat his family, including a well-deserved vacation. ???

A Quick Reminder

While lottery games can be fun for many people, gambling can become harmful for some. Always play responsibly and know your limits.