From Dream to a Million: How a Retiree from Charlotte Won $1 Million in a Second-Chance Drawing

How One Ticket Changed Everything

Veronica Cunningham, a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, had dreamed for years of finally retiring. But, as is often the case, reality didn’t always align with that goal. Everything changed after she took part in a second-chance drawing for the $10 Million Spectacular lottery game.

She won $1 million in a drawing that included tickets that hadn’t produced instant prizes. It was a turning point in her life.

“This is just crazy,” she told reporters after learning about her win. “It still hasn’t sunk in that this is real.”

Second Chance: The Chance That Paid Off

The second-chance system is simple: after purchasing and scanning a non-winning lottery ticket through a player’s account, the ticket is automatically entered into a special draw. Cunningham had been entering these draws regularly for years.

“I always had lots of hopes and dreams,” she said.
“And I kept entering, even when my tickets didn’t win the first time.”

Thanks to persistence and belief, she outpaced more than 1.9 million entries to claim the top prize.

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The Prize Amount and What She Did with the Money

Cunningham had two options for her prize payout:

Payment Option	Pre-tax Amount	After Taxes (Approximate)
$50,000 annually for 20 years	$1,000,000	Depends on yearly taxes
One-time lump sum	$600,000	$430,500

She chose the lump sum payout, noting that she wanted to pay off her mortgage and retire before the end of the year.

Lottery as a Path, Not Just a Coincidence

Cunningham’s story isn’t just about luck. It’s a powerful illustration of how consistent participation — even with losing tickets — can lead to major rewards. For years, she played the lottery and entered second-chance drawings, and it finally paid off.

Such drawings are a valuable alternative to instant wins, giving a genuine second shot to those who didn’t hit the jackpot right away. For example, the most recent drawing included:

One $500,000 prize
Ten $50,000 prizes
Another final drawing is still to come (no date announced yet)

Play Smart™: A Useful Resource for Players

The North Carolina Education Lottery promotes the Play Smart™ initiative, aimed at educating the public about responsible play.

Information on odds and probabilities
Tips on how to enter bonus and second-chance drawings
Guidance on responsible gaming
Free, confidential support for players in need

A Chain Reaction of Winners

Interestingly, Cunningham isn’t the only North Carolina player whose retirement became possible through a second-chance win. Just prior to her win, another participant — a teacher with over 30 years of experience — also took home $1 million thanks to a similar drawing mechanism.

Conclusion: Second Chances Are Real Opportunities

Veronica Cunningham’s story clearly shows that the road to a million doesn’t always come through instant luck. Sometimes, persistence and regular participation in second-chance drawings can bring more reward than random luck ever could.