PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A Pine Bluff woman has officially claimed a record-high prize from the Natural State Jackpot (NSJ) on Thursday.
The winner was named as Kashema Marks, who claimed her prize from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Claim Center.
According to a press release from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, Marks bought a $1 Quick Pick Natural State Jackpot ticket through the lottery's app.
“I play the lottery daily, so I noticed the advertising about the jackpot hitting new records,” Marks said. “I bought around $45 worth of tickets that Saturday afternoon – half of them were Quick Picks, and I selected my own numbers for the rest.”
After winning the lottery, Marks said that she's still processing it.
“This has to be a dream” she said. “Earlier this year, I wrote on a piece of paper that I was going to win the lottery after learning about manifestation from a friend. When I realized I wasn’t dreaming, I started screaming and running down the street.”
And it's not just Marks either, she said after claiming the winning numbers, her family made sure that people knew that she won.
“My mom has literally told everyone in Pine Bluff about me winning the lottery, and it seems like my sisters have announced it to the rest of the world,” she said.
Prior to her win in the Natural State Jackpot, the total had reached a record-high prize of $500,000 earlier this month.
The previous record of $430,000 was hit three years ago, but on Tuesday, June 14, the jackpot hit $480,000, according to the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
The game started in October 2012 and drawing held at 8 p.m. every Monday through Saturday. Each play costs $1 and players select five numbers between 1 and 39. Players can also opt for the computer to select the numbers for them.
After Marks' win, the Natural State Jackpot currently sits at $65,000 for Thursday night's drawing.