Fayetteville woman wins 3 lotto prizes, including $1M

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Monday, July 18, 2016
(Shutterstock file photo)
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A salon owner from Fayetteville is the first player to take home a $1 million top prize in the new $1,000,000 Bonus Cash scratch-off game.

Melanie Bacchus was shopping for a book when she stopped at Boulevard Amoco Food Shop on Bragg Boulevard and bought four lottery tickets. After two of the tickets produced $50 and $100 wins respectively, Bacchus went back - this time to purchase a $10 $1,000,000 Bonus Cash ticket. When she returned home and scratched the ticket, what she saw left her momentarily speechless.

"We won," Bacchus told her fiancé.

"Yeah, right," he replied. "You always say that."

But when she showed him the ticket, he realized she wasn't joking.

"We jumped for joy," Bacchus said.

Bacchus claimed her prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. She had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. Bacchus chose the lump sum and after required state and federal tax withholdings received $415,503.

She plans to use the winnings to pay off bills, invest in her salon and possibly buy a house.

$1,000,000 Bonus Cash launched this month with four top prizes of $1 million. Three remain unclaimed.

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