Stanly County man celebrates ‘lucky weekend’ after $152,709 win

Published 1:47 pm Monday, March 27, 2023

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RALEIGH – Chris Gilbert of Oakboro had a weekend this month he will never forget after a $1 Cash 5 ticket delivered a $152,709 jackpot win.

“It’s amazing,” Gilbert said. “What a lucky weekend.”

Gilbert bought his Quick Pick ticket for the March 18 Cash 5 drawing from Oakboro Express Mart on North Main Street in Oakboro.

“We got up on Sunday morning and ‘Wow,’ ” Gilbert recalled.

He said he called his parents to tell them he won the jackpot.

“They were shocked and amazed too,” he said. “We were all very happily surprised.”

Gilbert arrived at lottery headquarters Friday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $108,805.

He said he will use the winnings to get a car for his son and save for his retirement.

Cash 5 is one of six lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying their tickets through a retail location or Online Play, either through the lottery’s website or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. The odds of winning a Cash 5 jackpot are 1 in 962,598. Monday’s jackpot is $133,000.

The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart program educates and empowers North Carolinians to make smart decisions when they play the lottery. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the lottery highlights Play Smart to help ensure when North Carolinians play the lottery it doesn’t become more than a game.

Visit nclottery.com/PlaySmart to learn how the Play Smart program helps someone create a game plan to keep lottery play fun. If you or someone you know needs support, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.