An Onslow County couple won big this week from a scratch-off lottery ticket.
John Kopp and Tamara Burnette of Jacksonville bought a $5 Cash Payout ticket from the Publix on Marlin Drive in Jacksonville, and won $200,000, according to a news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery Thursday morning. Burnette said she started scratching the ticket in the parking lot but misread it at first.
“I didn’t have my glasses on so I thought it just said $20,” Burnette said in the release. “Then I said, ‘Oh wait there’s more.”
Kopp said Tammy kept saying “I think we won big.”
“I think we were in shock when we found out,” Burnette said.
More:Onslow man wins big off NC lottery scratch-off ticket
The release said the couple collected their prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. They chose to split the prize in half, and after required state and federal tax withholdings, each took home $71,011.
Kopp said he would like to use the winnings to buy a new lawnmower, and Burnette said she wants to pay some bills, according to the release.
The release said Cash Payout debuted in May with five $200,000 top prizes. Two $200,000 top prizes remain to be claimed.
Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $900 million per year for education. For details on how $12.1 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Onslow County in 2021, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at [email protected]
