When the woman scratched her Peppermint Payout ticket in front of 20–30 family members, the room erupted with excitement as she realized she had uncovered one of the game’s top prizes. Her grandmother reportedly shed tears of joy at the unexpected good fortune.
The Peppermint Payout game, released by the North Carolina Education Lottery on November 4, 2025, offers players a chance to win up to $150,000 on a $5 ticket. The overall odds of winning any prize in the game are approximately 1 in 4.07, and the odds of winning the top $150,000 prize are estimated at 1 in 1,353,300. After this recent win, one top prize of $150,000 remains unclaimed in the game.
After claiming her prize at the lottery’s headquarters, the winner received nearly $108,000 after state and federal tax withholdings. She said she plans to use part of her winnings to repair her car and save the rest for the future.
The North Carolina Education Lottery, which directs its proceeds to benefit public education across the state, continues to encourage players to check their tickets regularly and to enjoy lottery games responsibly.