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news blog > article

Five lucky tickets lead to ‘dreams come true’

October 14, 2011 Posted by NC Lottery at 5:00 PM
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If you were watching on Wednesday, we awarded the fifth multimillion dollar jackpot prize in state history to James Jones and his family from Greenville. Jones’ ticket was one of two ‘perfect tickets’ to split the $114 million jackpot in the Sept. 30 Mega Millions drawing. If you weren’t watching when it happened, check out this short YouTube video recap of the media event.

It was our pleasure to meet this great family and we can’t wait to meet our next jackpot winners as soon as possible. North Carolina players get their next chance Friday night; the Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $30 million.

From east of I-95 in Greenville all the way over to I-85 South, we’ve had two major winners from the Queen City of Charlotte tell us their lottery wins were a dream come true. Friday, we met Kenny Cuthbertson, who had to snap a picture of his $237,128 Cash 5 ticket with his cell phone to have his sister confirm it. The Friday before that, we met Samra Sumler. She said she cried tears of joy when she learned of her half-million dollar instant win playing $500,000 Anniversary Cash.

Twin wins of $200,000 went to Powerball players from along the Virginia Border who each matched five white balls in recent drawings. Frank Watson, of the little town named Littleton in Halifax County, won his prize in the October 5 drawing. Meanwhile, Edward Owens, of South Boston, Virginia, won his prize for the August 24 drawing on a N.C. Powerball ticket he purchased in Caswell County.

Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is estimated at $105 million and, if it rolls to next Wednesday, is expected to reach $124 million.

So, those were the largest wins of the week, but the fun didn’t stop there, with more than $12.1 million in instant scratch-off ticket prizes awarded since last week’s update. An Apex man won $70,000 playing Silver 7’s; a Hampstead man won $50,000 playing Junior Big Ol’ Bucks; and a Kinston man won $30,000 playing Blackout Bingo. Players from Fairview and Graham “struck gold” with respective $20,000 and $10,000 prizes on Carolina Gold. Additional $10,000 wins went to players from Angier, Red Springs, Shelby, Charlotte and Winston-Salem.

We can’t forget the Pick 3 and Pick 4 players! Folks with winning Pick 3 combinations won more than $2.3 million while 37 Pick 4 tickets worth $5,000 drove more than $842,000 in prizes this week.

That’s this week in big winners, we wish you a wonderful weekend – see you next week here in the Lucke-Zone.


49 COMMENTS

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4/08/2012 08:50 - NC Lottery

@ JABBERT - Any way you choose your numbers have the same chance of winning. Pick up a "how to play" brochure at any retailer, or call our player hotline and our folks can go over it with you

4/08/2012 04:42 - Jasper B.

Ineed to know if these numbers are the numbers on the ticket you buy or do you play on the lucky numbers that Ihave done on cash five , power ball and mega million. idont understand how to play thank you

3/15/2012 05:14 - cassandra e.

Hello has anyone won in havelock, NC

2/02/2012 09:27 - NC Lottery

@ SANDON - Just ask, we'll share whatever County-level info we have. In the future, we hope to have more county-specific info available online.

2/02/2012 04:01 - SANDON E.

how do we find out how much is won from the county were in what stores sold them.

12/01/2011 04:18 - SANDON E.

Just a idea that would speed up all lotto lines If you play blanks A through E on pick 3 or 4 OR A and b could you print them all on the same ticket that be great

10/21/2011 09:58 - james s.

Sorry bout ur sick child.Good luck to you.Hope u win.

10/21/2011 03:49 - Michael R.

NC lottery has turned into a joke. I stopped playing the pick 3 and pick 4 and started back going across the line to Virginia. They pay out a lot more money than NC. It seems like more popular numbers are drawn in Va than NC.

10/21/2011 02:58 - Michael R.

I agree with BK220 and although I can't explain it, it amazes me that most power ball, Megamillion and other state lotteries winners always seem to be retired bankers, businessmen, etc. It's like there's a protocol in place that rewards those.

10/21/2011 01:58 - Barbara K.

RAY-We have made it this long,we will continue to make it.Just a point that winners should be careful how they phrase things.I would not take vacation,play golf or say I have everything in life with people all around me doing without,a neighbor that is in need or just animals suffering.All people do not play the lottery for entainment but for the chance of a better life.I have not heard this from any of the lottery employees.Thanks Ray- You have lifted my spirits and MAYBE one day someone that does not already have everything in life will win.GOOD LUCK ALL_---

10/21/2011 12:08 - Danny R.

I hope someone in NC wins the powerball tomorrow! Hoping it is someone that could use the funds and help other people in need. I would most likely help others out. What if the winner could distribute 1,000,000 to 200 folks 5,000 each. That would help me out for sure. good luck to everybody!!!!!!!!!

10/21/2011 08:33 - Ray S.

BK--Once again I agree with you!! It seems like the more dishonest and greedy you are; the better off you become!! I wasn't raised like that!! I am sorry to hear about your child. I would be the same way!! God bless you and your family!! I wish you the BEST!! Ray

10/20/2011 07:55 - Barbara K.

Ray/You are right but all my life all I have ever seen is greed and dishonesty.Yes,I am just about old enough to retire but no job.I do like to play and it is fun but it stops there.If I did not need the money I do not know if I would play at all.A sick child will make you do anything!This is not entertainment for me.

10/20/2011 10:55 - NC Lottery

@ ABALLEN and @LSUTIGER1987 - our staff is attempting to reach $5000+ winners by phone this week. If we can't reach them by phone, they will be contacted via certified mail. Once they've been notified, we can't announce the top winners until all of them visit one of our regional claim centers to complete the claim process. We know everyone is eager to find out the results, but this is the same careful process we have to follow with every second chance drawing

10/20/2011 08:51 - Ray S.

Bk220- I feel your pain; but "WE" don't have to play!! I agree with you however!! I have moved to Indiana; but still go back to N.C. often and still play there!! Its no different here; you either have the LUCK or you don't!! At the present time I don't. I keep thinking MAYBE ONE DAY!!- It is fun; but you have to be very careful and not get carried away!! that's when it stops being FUN!! GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE AND PLAY ON!! OUR DAY WILL COME!!!!! (i HOPE) R17

10/20/2011 04:55 - Rosemary B.

Lucke-zone: you have a comeback response for everything and everyone. I agree with these posts...the wins in NC are top-heavy in the middle, northern & western part of the state. I, like others, have a "dream"..to get out of debt and to quit a job that I dislike. I posted earlier about the few winners in SE NC, and yes, I know someone did win the Cash 5, but very few of the retailers in the Calabash area ever have any winners. :)

10/19/2011 02:11 - Anita A.

How long does it take to be notified by the NCEL that you are a winner

10/19/2011 01:05 - Ryan K.

@bkearney220 - We are sorry you haven't had as many winning experiences as some others and hope that, if you continue to play, that you do so for entertainment purposes. That said, you only need to look at the "news" tab on our website to see that our winners come from all walks of life, both young and old and of various financial situations. If we've learned anything from winners the past five years, it's that luck doesn't care about who you are. There's no reason behind it, it's just something that happens, usually when you least expect it.

10/19/2011 09:34 - Barbara K.

OK-If the odds are the same for everyone,you tell me why in 5 years playing all the games I have won $1.00.I will be happy to return to you my thousands of tickets and I didn't even keep them all.There was even the owner of a store in the next town over that won Cash 5?????I am sorry you can preach until you are blue in the face but cannot explain why all big winners are retired and do not even need the money.It makes me sick to even watch knowing that people are out there suffering.

10/19/2011 08:42 - NC Lottery

@ BUN - Sure, we have many winners from big places - lots of people live there and play there, and they have the same chance to win as anybody else, so doesn't that make sense? But also, take a closer look at this blog entry: it has info about winners/winning tickets in very small places like Littleton, Providence, Apex, Hampstead, Kinston, Fairview, Graham, Angier, Red Springs and Shelby. Those are much, much smaller places than Charlotte or Raleigh! :-)

10/19/2011 07:38 - henrietta m.

It still seems that most of the big money winners and new ticket winners are in the larger cities. we get one winnner every other year or so. "Winning tickets are spread at random"?

10/18/2011 03:06 - NC Lottery

@ BKEARNEY220 - We've had Cash 5 jackpot winners from lots of small places. Here are a few of them: Hickory, mt. Gilead, Southport, Sophia, Belmont, Snow Hill, Linden, Holly Springs, Yadkinville, Sprice Pine, Semora, Brevard, Roxboro, Cheryville, Castle Hayne, Riegelwood, Teachey, Hertford, Apex, Willard, Creedmoor, Hillsborough, Chadbourn, Canton, Stony Point, Sylva, Fremont, Navassa, Roper, Midland, Icard, Mount Airy, Marston, Maxton, Whittier... and the list goes on

10/18/2011 03:02 - NC Lottery

@ BKEARNEY220 - If you look back at our comments, what we said was, wouldn't you expect to see places with lots of people win the lottery sometimes? We have winners from big and small places all the time. Just last night, someone bought the $300,000-winning Cash 5 ticket in Bladenboro. About 1/3 of 1% of the entire population of North Carolina lives in Bladen County... the odds of winning are the same regardless of where you live.

10/18/2011 02:21 - Barbara K.

If most of the winners are in the same larger area's are you saying it is useless for someone in a small area to play as we will never win.Our money will just keep going to the winners in larger area's.We may be small but we deserve to win also.I also beg to differ as I buy tickets all over the place.Excuse me,it is your job to say this!

10/18/2011 10:59 - michael c.

Some times I win sometimes I don't. Most I won was $500 in the anniversary scratch off game. One time I won $100 twice. Won 4100 on a scratch off game, went to another retailer and bought another tix and won $100. I would say a spent more than won, but that $500 makes it close to break even.

10/18/2011 10:31 - NC Lottery

@ BKEARNEY220 - We do have lots of winners from the Charlotte, Fayetteville and Asheville areas. Based on the odds being the same for everyone, you would expect areas of the state with large populations to have a large amount of winners. That said, last night's Cash 5 jackpot ticket was sold in Bladenboro in Bladen County. About one third of one percent of North Carolinians live in Bladen County.

10/18/2011 09:32 - Barbara K.

Yes,You do have winners in places beside Charlotte but you go back and do the research and of all games see how many winners have come from the Charlotte area,Fayetteville area and the Asheville area.

10/18/2011 09:08 - NC Lottery

@ JESUTTON - from 3/30/06 - 6/30/11, Carteret players won more than $27 million in prizes. To date, there have been 31 instant wins of $5,000 or more, including four $100,000 prizes, to Carteret winners. Three Cash 5 jackpots have gone to Carteret winners, ranging from $94,363 to $351,309. Powerball players from Carteret have won four $10,000 prizes and a $50,000 prize. In July, a Newport player became the first Mega Millions winner of $10,000 from Carteret County.

10/17/2011 09:48 - james s.

Are there any winning tickets in downeast carteret county?

10/17/2011 04:30 - NC Lottery

@ SIP - Our games, draw and instant, actually pay out way more than 40% - we awarded about 59% of all revenue back to players in the form of prizes. We returned about 29% back to North Carolina for education. As you pointed out in your comment, its just a matter of luck. Winning tickets are distributed at random throughout the entire game and could show up anywhere. We wish you the best!

10/17/2011 03:39 - NC Lottery

@ TIFFANYT - Well, first things first - approximately .11% of North Carolinians live in Jones County, and approximately .15% of lottery retailers, eleven of them, are located in Jones County. That hasn't stopped Jones players from winning more than $4.9 million in prizes from 3/30/06-6/30/11. Back in May earlier this year, a $30,000 Powerball prize was awarded to a Maysville player. Maysville has had six instant winners of $5,000 or more, including a $25,000 on the "5 Times Lucky" game in 2009. There's no way of telling where a winning ticket, big or small, will show up - it could be in a place, big or small! :-)

10/17/2011 03:30 - NC Lottery

@ KERR LAKE - Vance County has had five Cash 5 jackpot winners of $50,000 to $390,444 - the most recent winner claimed in February of last year, from Henderson, for $294,042. Vance County Powerball players have won 8 prizes of $10,000 or more, the most recent last December, also to a Henderson player. Regardless of where you live or play, you have the same chance to win :-)

10/17/2011 03:21 - NC Lottery

@ LUCKYJ2112 - We don't have an estimate for the date of the Carolina Gold second-chance drawing at this time. However, we will give players at least 30 days notice before the draw date is set - the Lucke-Zone will be one of the first places to find out!

10/17/2011 11:25 - TOMMY S.

Hey.I enjoy playing your scratch offs and I realize it's just a game of chance.If I buy a $1,2,3 or 5 dollar ticket and don't win "too bad." When I buy two or three $10 tickets with no return I lay off buying your scratch offs.Personally I think all $10+ tickets should return at least 40%.That still leaves the lottery with 60% and of course you know what I'll do with the four dollars. At least I'll feel like I had a chance of winning.I've bought as many as 30+ scratch off without a winner.I know I'm not the luckiest person but come on the payout in NC sucks.

10/17/2011 07:13 - Sean L.

I thank God for blessing each one of them and pray he blesses all of you too.

10/17/2011 06:46 - patricia p.

my imlaws won 5yrs old in red springs!

10/16/2011 09:08 - nateeyah h.

wow

10/16/2011 07:40 - patricia j.

my blessing is coming soon!

10/16/2011 01:28 - tiffany t.

are there no winning ticket in maysville nc are we getting all the blogies ticket

10/16/2011 12:22 - Louethel K.

we need a winner in Fayetteville for the mega millions and power ball!!!

10/15/2011 02:46 - Alexander B.

Kerr Lake Bait and Tackle is in need of a big jackpot, please. I have been playing the same sets of numbers and see maybe 2 of them show up. I wont give up. Ive been playing these sets for over a year. When was the last time Vance Co hit an online number, not scratch off?

10/15/2011 09:56 - NC Lottery

@ TIEANNA - Did you see towards the end of the blog that we had a $10,000 winner from Red Springs claim the prize this week?

10/14/2011 10:20 - walter w.

we need winners in

10/14/2011 08:40 - james s.

About rite.

10/14/2011 07:56 - Andrea C.

Very exciting!!! My turn is coming up next!!!

10/14/2011 07:50 - tieanna j.

we need a winner in red springs ;~) ready for that jackpot (cash five)

10/14/2011 07:42 - James H.

Any word when an announcement will be made for a drawing date for the second chance Carolina Gold? I know this game just came out, and I'm still on the hunt for the "gold", but I'd like to know how long I have to collect second entries.

10/14/2011 06:47 - NC Lottery

@ BKEARNEY220 - We've had Cash 5 jackpot winners in lots more places than just Charlotte! :-)

10/14/2011 06:28 - Barbara K.

I cannot believe it---A cash 5 winner in Charlotte"again"

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