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Wilmer Ferrufino of Gastonia tried his luck on a $30 scratch-off ticket and won a $1 million prize.

Ferrufino bought the lucky ticket from the QSC Food Mart on McAdenville Road in Lowell.

When Ferrufino arrived at lottery headquarters Wednesday to collect his prize, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $426,069.

The Millionaire Maker game launched in March with 30 top prizes of $1 million and 10 $100,000 prizes. Ferrufino became the 24^th person to win one of the $1 million prizes. Six $1 million prizes and three $100,000 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 $13.4 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Gaston County in 2020, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.