How N.C. man accidentally won lottery jackpot online

A North Carolina man said he accidentally won a $177,749 jackpot by playing an online lottery game he thought was in demo mode.

Raleigh resident Alphonzo Oates told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he didn’t realize he was actually playing when he scored the top-level “Epic Jackpot” in the Wheel of Bonuses online game.

“I thought I was playing in demo mode,” Oates said. “It surprised the heck out of me.”

Oates’ $1 play earned him a $177,749 prize.

He said the prize money will give his daughter an extra-merry Christmas.

“I can use this to pay off my daughter’s last year of college,” he said. “That will be her Christmas gift.”