Bryan Lofton thought he’d like living in North Carolina when he brought his family south from Maryland a couple of months ago, but the Tar Heel state has surprised him with an unexpected reason to stay.
He just won $200,000 in one of the state’s $5 scratch-off lottery games.
“I already liked it here, but I’m definitely loving North Carolina now,” Lofton said, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery website. “This is just icing on the cake.”
He bought the winning $5 Lincoln scratch-off ticket from the Sheetz on U.S. 29 North in Greensboro, WFMY News 2 reported.
“My heart was racing. I read it like 50 times to make sure,” Lofton told the NC Education Lottery website. Upon confirming the win, he called his wife with the news. “She didn’t believe me at first because I’m a prankster. I’m always playing jokes on her.”
Lofton said he will use most of the money will help buy a new house. After taxes, he walked away with about $142,000.
“This comes at the perfect time for us,” Lofton said, according to the NC Education Lottery website. “We are currently in the middle of searching for a home to buy.”
He plans on paying some bills first, and then he will use the rest to help with purchasing a home for his family.
