A 50-cent lottery ticket beat 1 in 62 million odds for North Carolina woman

Frugal is one way to describe someone who spends only 50 cents on a lottery ticket.

But it paid off for one North Carolina woman.

The Caldwell County woman got lucky in the truest definition of the word after spending the minuscule amount, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

“Karen Hamby of Hudson tried her luck on a digital instant game and won a $307,493 jackpot,” lottery officials said in a Sept. 24 news release.

“Hamby claimed her prize Monday (Sept. 23) at lottery headquarters and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $219,858,” lottery officials said.

Odds of winning the “epic jackpot” were 1 in 62 million.

She didn’t offer a comment on the win or what she intends to do with the money.

Hamby’s win came in Wheel of Bonuses, an online game played without need of going to a store to buy tickets. Plays in the game start at 50 cents and go up to $30.

Jackpots in Wheel of Bonuses are progressive, meaning they keep growing until someone wins. The amount depends on how many people are playing.

This story was originally published September 25, 2024 at 7:29 AM with the headline "A 50-cent lottery ticket beat 1 in 62 million odds for North Carolina woman."