A former US marine’s change of heart to buy a lottery ticket has won him USD 1 million in a newly debuted game.

Ronnie Woods, 66, from the city of Gastonia, in Gaston County, North Carolina, USA, was at the Save Mart on Union Road when it suddenly occurred to him to try his luck out.

Then instead of heading out the door, he made a last-minute decision and bought North Carolina Education Lottery’s new 50X The Cash scratch-off.

Woods said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “I was going to walk out the door but something told me to just go ahead and get it.”

But when the 66-year-old man realised that he had just became a millionaire and won USD 1 million (GBP 823,150), he instantly called his son to spread the joy.

He said: “I asked him, ‘What would you say if I told you I won a million dollars?’

“He said, ‘That’s a good joke.’ So I took a picture and sent it to him.”

Woods claimed his prize at the Lottery’s headquarters in the city of Raleigh on Tuesday, 7th February.

He chose a one-time payment after being offered the prize as an annuity of USD 50,000 (GBP 41,158) over 20 years and a lump sum of USD 600,000 (GBP 493,896).

He reportedly went home with USD 427,503 (GBP 351,869) following state and federal taxes.

Woods revealed that he will use the money to pay off his mortgage and do some home renovations, and added: “You never know what’s around the corner.

“I just want to live in peace and enjoy life.”

North Carolina Education Lottery stated that five more USD 1 million {GBP 823,150) prizes remain to be claimed after the new 50X The Cash game aired this week.