Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman celebrated her birthday by playing an online lottery game that earned her "the best birthday present ever" -- a $626,543 prize.
Ocean Isle Beach resident Chelsea Carter told North Carolina Education Lottery officials she decided to play the Monopoly digital instants game at around 2 a.m. on her 40th birthday.
The decision earned her a $626,543 jackpot.
"I was in shock," Carter said. "I started shaking my husband telling him to wake up. I go, 'I just won $626,000,' and he laughed and closed his eyes."
Carter visited lottery headquarters and took home $449,548 after required federal and state tax withholdings.
