James Roy of Fuquay-Varina just turned a quiet Friday at home into a life-changing day. Sitting on his couch and playing the Bison Bonanza digital instant game on the North Carolina Education Lottery app, he spun for just 50 cents—and hit the Epic Jackpot: a staggering $488,063.
“I said, ‘Honey, we won a lot of money!’” Roy recalled, calling out to his wife in the other room. The odds of winning that top-level progressive jackpot? A mind-blowing 1 in 62 million.
On Wednesday, Roy claimed his prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After federal and state taxes, he walked away with $350,185. Plans are already in motion: he’ll pay off bills, clear the RV, and take a scenic train trip across Canada with his wife.
The Bison Bonanza jackpot doesn’t stay gone for long. After Roy’s win, it reset at $50,000 and had already climbed to over $108,000 by Thursday afternoon, giving other hopeful players plenty to chase.
Digital instant games are available exclusively online via the NC Lottery website or the official mobile app, offering 55 different games for players to try their luck anytime, anywhere. “It just shows anybody can win on anything,” Roy said.
His story joins a growing list of big digital lottery wins, like a Knightdale man who recently pocketed $135,218 playing online. For Roy, one small spin proved that a little patience—and a lot of luck—can truly pay off.
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