RALEIGH - Evon Garris of Ayden says she always Power Plays when she buys a Powerball ticket. That decision paid off in the Saturday, April 26, drawing when her ticket matched all five white balls. The $200,000 prize for her winning ticket was multiplied by 5 (the Power Play number for the drawing), increasing its value to $1 million!

Garris says she checked the winning numbers on her computer Saturday night after the drawing and was elated to see that she had won. She plans to use the money to set up a retirement fund for herself and her husband, take care of two sets of parents, and go on a cruise vacation. Garris purchased her ticket at the Wilco 1819 on Third Street in Ayden.

Phil Brittain of Icard plans to use his “Carolina Cash 5” winnings to take it easy during retirement. Brittain’s ticket matched all five white balls for the April 27 drawing, winning him the $345,280 top prize.

Brittain says he picked his own numbers for the drawing. When asked how he felt about winning, he said, “It’s a feeling like I can’t believe … it’s something else!” Brittain purchased his ticket at the B&B Royal Food Store on Highway 70 in Hildebran.

A total of 60,749 North Carolina Powerball players won prizes in the Saturday, April 26, Powerball drawing, ranging from $1,000,000 down to $3 for a total payout in prizes worth $1,752,158. No one matched all five white balls plus the Powerball, so the estimated jackpot for the Wednesday, April 30, drawing is $162 million.

The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has paid out more than $5 million total in instant scratch-off ticket prizes since Thursday, April 24. Also since Thursday, “Carolina Cash 5” players have won nearly $517,000 and “Carolina Pick 3” players have won more than $608,000 in prizes.