In a dramatic turn of events, an 81-year-old North Carolina man had his life turned around with a two-prize lottery win mere seconds before claiming a $50,000 prize. Dennis Parks of Carthage visited the North Carolina Education Lottery’s Greensboro office on April 8, 2025, to claim a Merry Multiplier scratch-off prize, but instead was greeted by his daughter with a birthday gift that led to an extra $100,000 Keno win. This strange chain of events is reflective of the seemingly random nature of fortune and the possibly life-changing possibility of the lottery games.
The first $50,000 merry multiplier win
Parks’ path to success started when she won $50,000 playing a Merry Multiplier scratch-off ticket. It is one of the numerous scratch-off games available that has tiered prizes and instant-winning action. This resident of Carthage had earlier bought the ticket without knowing this was the start of a string of lucky moments. Merry Multiplier, just like most games with scratch-off, offers members an opportunity for winning up to $500,000 based on the prize format and the price of the ticket. Parks’ trip to the Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center to make his win official was the first half of a day that would forever be etched in his memory.
A birthday surprise becomes a profitable one
As Parks prepared to receive his $50,000 award, his daughter surprised him with a birthday surprise: a Keno ticket she bought at the lottery office. The gesture, to mark his 81st birthday, unexpectedly took a different turn when the ticket was worth a $100,000 win. “It was just my day, I guess,” Parks recalled, recollecting the twin windfall. Keno, a Chinese game of numbers guessing dating from ancient times, lets players pick numbers and win on the basis of matches against randomly drawn outcomes. The chances of winning its most generous prizes are generally high, so Parks’ surprise victory was even more surprising.
Reactions and fiscal plans
Other notable jackpot winners like Robert Hoban, a Stanley man who won $110,000 playing Cash 5 after conceptualizing exactly the amount he did, were as surprised as Parks. Like Hoban, Parks encountered initial hesitation from relatives, although his own tickets eliminated much suspicion. After federal and state taxes, Parks’ total winnings gave a big financial boost. He will spend the money on practical things, such as bills, and a family vacation to Ohio. This practical choice is akin to that of Greensboro mom LeKessa Pearce, who claimed a $342,292 Cash 5 jackpot and used it to construct a “she shed” and provide for her family’s future.
The North Carolina education lottery’s impact
The North Carolina Education Lottery, created in 2005, has added more than $10 billion to state education efforts such as school building, scholarships, and pre-K. In 2024 alone, lottery revenue added $700 million to the cause, which is more than 10% of the state’s education budget. Retailers also gain, as witnessed when the Sudley Road Shell gas station in Manassas, Virginia, collected $50,000 selling a $10 million scratch-off ticket. These alliances point to the double role of the lottery as creator of winners and underwriter of community amenities.
A double win in lotteries history
Although winning in the lottery is statistically unlikely, back-to-back wins are all but unknown. Parks’ experience is in the rare category of double windfalls, like Joseph Heaton’s $10 million scratch-off ticket win in Virginia and Ronnie Foster’s $200,000 win accumulated on his way to his last chemotherapy treatment. The North Carolina Education Lottery encourages responsible play and reminds everyone that games are meant to be enjoyed, not plotted. However, tales like Parks’ appeal to the popular imagination, keeping alive the dream of sudden wealth.
Dennis Parks’ record-setting double win is a beacon of the unpredictability of lottery games and the ability of these games to transform mundane days into extraordinary events. As the North Carolina Education Lottery continues to support vital education initiatives, stories of fortune such as Parks’ are a powerful reminder of the human element behind the astounding numbers. For Parks, the $150,000 pre-tax is more than a monetary win but a victory for family, perseverance, and the timeless hope that lightning can strike twice.
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