A Newton Grove resident is the first player to win $1 million playing $5,000,000 Mega Cash.
Gaudencio Leiva bought the $20 ticket at the Short Stop on Fayetteville Highway in Newton Grove.
Leiva claimed his prize Wednesday at the NC Education Lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum.
$5,000,000 Mega Cash launched earlier this month with three top prizes of $5 million and six prizes of $1 million. All $5 million prizes and five $1 million prizes remain.
Ticket sales from games like $5,000,000 Mega Cash made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $634 million for the state last year.
