A man playing one of the North Carolina Lottery digital games defied the odds and won a windfall.
Todd Lesher recently struck gold, hitting the incredible $328,105 Epic Jackpot on a digital instant game called Bison Bonanza.
The lottery announced the win via its X account.
This life-changing win has not only brought him financial peace but also highlights the growing popularity and accessibility of digital lottery games. It's also reminiscent of the massive jackpot a woman won playing Bison Bonanza in February.
North Carolina Lottery Provides Life-Changing Spin
Todd Lesher was at home, unwinding with some TV and playing digital instant games. Little did he know, a mere $2 spin would soon alter his life dramatically.
When he realized he had hit the jackpot — which had odds of 1 in 15.5 million — Todd was in utter disbelief. “I just kept looking at it to make sure it was still there,” he said in a statement released by the North Carolina lottery.
According to the lottery, the odds of winning a Progressive Jackpot for a Digital Instant game are tied to the price of the play. In Bison Bonanza for instance, a $1 play has odds of 1 in 31,034,483 to win the Progressive Jackpot. A $2 Play has twice the odds of winning. A $5 play, five times the odds of winning, and so forth.
After claiming his prize and receiving $235,416 after taxes, the grandfather of four is now planning to pay off his house, tackle bills, and invest in some landscaping at home. “I’m a happy camper because I can live comfortably now,” Todd shared with a smile.
How Bison Bonanza Works
Bison Bonanza is a fascinating digital instant game that offers players the opportunity to win one of three progressive jackpots.
These include the BIG Jackpot starting at $300, the MAJOR Jackpot starting at $5,000, and the EPIC Jackpot that starts at $50,000. As more players purchase tickets, these jackpot amounts grow, creating thrilling possibilities for gamers.

Players can place wagers ranging from 50 cents to $30, with several enticing ways to win:
- Match five or more symbols for a prize
- Discover three Bison Coin Symbols to enter the Bonus Wheel round for a guaranteed win
- Unlock free plays to find Wild symbols with 2X and 3X multipliers
Bison Bonanza also allows players to demo the games before diving into action, ensuring they can enjoy the game experience risk-free.
North Carolina's Digital Lottery Games
The North Carolina Education Lottery, launched in 2005, has continually evolved to incorporate new technologies and expand its offerings. The introduction of digital lottery games marked a significant milestone in its history. With the rise of smartphones and increased internet accessibility, players can now enjoy a wide range of digital games from the comfort of their homes.
The lottery's innovative approach began with basic online draw games and quickly expanded into a variety of digital scratch-offs and instant win games. Bison Bonanza represents one of the first games where players can win progressive jackpots digitally, reflecting the continuous effort to enhance player engagement and excitement online.
Try Slot Machines Online
With success stories like Todd Lesher's and the rapid development of digital capacities, North Carolina's digital lottery games are set to remain a popular pastime for many. As technology progresses, we can expect even more exciting advancements in the world of digital lottery gaming.
But if you live in one of the states that offer legal online casino, Vegas Insider has provided us with a list of the best slot machine apps you can try. If you're not in a legal state, you can also try slot machine games at a sweepstakes casino, which uses gold coins and sweepstakes coins instead of real money.