MOORESVILLE, NC — An ordinary Sunday turned extraordinary for Francis Garcia Arita, a resident of Mooresville, who became the first player to win $100,000 playing a digital instant game.
Arita’s excitement was unmatched as he experienced this monumental win. “It was wild,” he shared. “I still don’t believe it. Just unreal.” He won the substantial prize by playing The Lamp, investing $20 with odds of 1 in 1,000,000.
The joyous news was immediately shared with his wife, leading to a celebratory moment. “We were jumping around,” Arita recounted with a laugh. “She was so happy.”
His journey with digital instant games began after watching a commercial. Already having the app, Arita decided to give it a try and found himself winning, which encouraged him to continue playing.
After claiming his prize at the lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Friday, Arita received $71,256 post-tax. He intends to use his winnings to pay bills and save the remainder.
This remarkable win occurred less than a month following the introduction of new digital instant games, offering players like Arita a novel and exciting way to engage with the lottery and win prizes.