Delayed Christmas Miracle: North Carolina Man Wins $1 Million in Second-Chance Lottery Draw

In the world of lottery enthusiasts, stories of luck and fortune abound. Yet, some tales are more enchanting than others. This narrative revolves around a North Carolina man whose ordinary holiday tradition turned into an extraordinary boon, a tale that will undoubtedly warm the hearts of many.

The Tradition That Paid Off

Ray Abbott, a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, had an annual Christmas tradition. Every holiday season without fail, he would purchase Christmas-themed scratch-off lottery tickets for his family. "I always buy Christmas tickets and put them in their stockings," he shared with the North Carolina Lottery. Little did he know that this seemingly simple tradition would one day turn into a life-changing event.

While his gifts may not have initially yielded significant winnings, Abbott was not one to let these tickets go to waste. He entered the scratch-off tickets from the 2025 holiday season into his online lottery account. This action made him eligible for the Lottery's Merry Million Second Chance drawing.

A Delayed but Worthy Christmas Miracle

On February 4, 2026, Abbott received an unexpected notification from the Lottery that sent shockwaves through him and his family. Amidst 35 million total entries in the drawing, Abbott had emerged triumphant as the winner of the $1 million top prize.

"This is wild," Abbott told Lottery officials, recalling the moment he got the message. "My wife is at home freaking out." While other participants won prizes of $25,000 and $5,000, Abbott was the sole lottery player to bag the grand prize.

"It's just unbelievable," Abbott related. "I'm still in shock right now. This is crazy." His Christmas miracle may have been delayed, but it was indeed worth the wait.

Claiming the Prize

Upon visiting the Lottery headquarters in Raleigh to claim his prize, Abbott was presented with two options: he could either accept the prize as an annuity of $50,000 payments paid out over 20 years or opt for a one-time lump sum of $600,000. After careful consideration, Abbott chose the lump sum and walked away with a net amount of $432,060 after federal and state taxes.

A Future Transformed

When asked about his plans for using the winnings, Abbott revealed that he intends to use them to pay off bills, save for retirement, and take a vacation with his family. His story serves as a testament to how a simple holiday tradition can transform into an unexpected blessing that changes lives and futures.