A Hillsborough resident is among the first winners of the North Carolina Education Lottery’s digital “instant games,” bagging a $100,000 prize.

The state lottery commission reported Nichalis Rider claimed his prize at lottery headquarters Tuesday in Raleigh. He said he played the instant game “Robo Cash” while waiting in the parking lot of Best Buy store last week, and called his wife to tell her as soon as the prize popped up.

“I just sat there thinking, ‘No way this just happened,’” Rider said in a statement through the state lottery shared Wednesday. “It was pure insanity.”

Rider said he won the $100,000 off a $10 entry, which has a 1 in 2 million chance of winning that top prize. And it’s the not the first time he’s won big playing Robo Cash — with the North Carolina Education Lottery saying the Hillsborough man had claimed a $5,000 prize before.

After required federal and state tax withholdings, the state lottery said Rider took home $71,503. He said in Wednesday’s release he plans to use the money to complete some house projects and then will invest the rest of his prize.

The logo for the state lottery’s Digital Instants game called “Robo Cash.” (Photo via the North Carolina Education Lottery.)

The North Carolina Education Lottery launched its digital instant games in November. Players access them exclusively online on the lottery’s website or NC Lottery Official Mobile App, paying for each play. Wednesday’s release said in the Robo Cash game, for example, players can pay from 50 cents to $10 to earn a turn to play. The lottery offers 17 different games through this method.

North Carolina’s Problem Gambling Helpline is 877-718-5543 and more resources for those who need help can find more materials at More Than A Game.


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