Ray Abbott entered his non-winning lottery tickets from his family’s Christmas stockings into a second chance drawing and won $1 million. Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Education Lottery
A North Carolina man’s non-winning scratch-off lottery ticket turned into a belated $1 million Christmas present in a second chance drawing.
Raleigh resident Ray Abbott told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he bought a stack of holiday-themed scratch-off tickets to his family for Christmas.
“I always buy Christmas tickets and put them in their stockings,” he said.
Abbott scanned the non-winning tickets with his phone using the lottery app, and was automatically entered into the Feb. 4 Merry Million Second Chance drawing.
A notification alerted Abbott that he had won the $1 million prize.
“This is wild,” Abbott said. “My wife is at home freaking out.”
Abbott said his winnings will go toward paying bills, saving for retirement and taking a family vacation.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Abbott said. “I’m still in shock right now. This is crazy.”
