Robert Bascom-Cohane of New Bern couldn’t believe his eyes when he checked his online lottery account to find he had won a $100,000 prize from playing Powerball.
2026-09-14 03:36:48
Bascom-Cohane bought a $3 Power Play ticket using Online Play in the August 5 drawing.
“It was a total surprise,” said Bascom-Cohane. “I couldn’t even speak.”
He had matched four balls and the Powerball in the drawing. The odds of that happening are 1 in 913,129.
His husband was next to him when he won, and saw the shocked expression on his face.
“All I could say was ‘Oh, my God, oh my God, oh my God,” said Bascom-Cohane.
He arrived at lottery headquarters Monday to claim the prize. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $72,011.
He plans to use the money to pay bills, remodel a bathroom, put down hardwood floors and visit family.
Powerball is one of six lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying tickets at a retail location or with Online Play through the lottery’s website or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.
Education programs in Craven County received $5.8 million in support from lottery funds last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.
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