Weekly wrap-up: Powerball = WINNING

November 4, 2011 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:53 PM

Happy Friday, Lucke-Zoners! Here's all the news that's fit to print...

The excitement this week about a $245 million Powerball jackpot ended with the winning ticket sold in Connecticut, but the sales around the jackpot as it grew to that size led to some big wins for North Carolina players and boosted the amount of money the N.C. Education Lottery will return this year for education.

The jackpot rolled over 13 times during the seven weeks of sales. During that time, sales exceeded $21.3 million in the state. Initial estimates indicate sales will generate more than $8.5 million for education.

More than 473,000 tickets won prizes totaling more than $4.4 million, including two $200,000 prizes. Retailers across the state earned more than $1.4 million in commissions from Powerball sales through the weeks the jackpot rolled.

The jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing is an estimated $20 million if taken as an annuity or $11.9 million if taken as a lump sum. In Wednesday’s drawing, 64,521 tickets sold in North Carolina won a total of $564,442. The Saturday, Oct. 29 drawing paid out $472,908 to 49,820 winning tickets across the state.

Big winners from Oct. 27 – Nov. 3

Lucky streak brings $150,000 win to nurse
“This has been a lucky week,” Angel Roberson of Washington said as she held her souvenir big check for the $150,000 win. “I thought I might win $10,000 or $20,000. I was hoping. But nothing like this.”

Gaston County couple to pay off house after $500,000 instant win
“I told her that this was an older game and we had better chances,” Robert Coburn of Mount Holly said. “I knew it was coming. When I scratched the ticket I saw a dollar sign all the way on the left and my heart started beating. When I saw the “five”, a tear hit the kitchen counter. I love this game. I feel great.”

Warren County man wins $150,000 instantly
Peter Bullock, a resident of Manson in Warren County, plans to use the $150,000 he won playing the N.C. Education Lottery’s $150 Grand game to spend as needed and maybe purchase a new lawn mower.

Gaston County couple wins $100,000 in instant game
Gaston County residents Larry and Peggy Lineberger plan to use the $100,000 they won playing the N.C. Education Lottery’s holiday-themed game $100,000 Treasure Tree to travel and add to their savings.

Retired Army sergeant wins $100,000 instant prize
Steven Williams of Clinton, a retired Army sergeant, says the lucky instant ticket he picked up Tuesday at a convenience store in Broadway was just waiting for him.

Greensboro man wins $380,644 Carolina Cash 5 jackpot
John C. Anderson II of Greensboro beat the odds Thursday night by matching all five numbers in the Carolina Cash 5 drawing to win a jackpot of $380,644.

A Carolina Cash 5 ticket sold in Asheville matched all five numbers in the Nov. 3 drawing and is worth $332,556. The ticket was purchased at the Wilco on Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Players have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize.

Wheel of Fortune winner

Renee Lail of Shelby is the second person to win a trip to Hollywood and a chance to play in a non-broadcast version of the Wheel of Fortune game. She was the grand prize winner in the Oct. 26 second-chance drawing in the Wheel of Fortune instant ticket game.

Lail, the owner and operator of a daycare, won a five day, four night trip for four people to Hollywood. She will attend a non-broadcast version of the popular game show featuring the stars of the TV game show, Pat Sajack and Vanna White. She will get one spin on the Wheel of Fortune to win a cash prize ranging from $300 to $10,000 and could get the chance to play for a $1 million prize.

“I can’t believe it,” said Lail of her good luck. “I really didn’t think it could happen. I’m in shock.”

As of Friday, three top prizes of $100,000 remain to be claimed in the Wheel of Fortune game. Players can enter their non-winning tickets into the third and final second-chance drawing for a trip to Hollywood. The third drawing is scheduled for Dec. 21. All qualifying non-winning entries will be combined into a fourth and final drawing for a chance to win up to $1 million in cash.

Game Report

Players in tonight’s Mega Millions drawing have a chance to win an estimated $12 million prize if taken as an annuity or $8.7 million if the lump sum option is chosen. In Tuesday’s drawing, 11,671 tickets won prizes of $2 to $450 for a total payout of $74,117. The Friday, Oct. 28 drawing paid out $69,365 to 9,901 winning tickets.

Since Thursday, Oct. 27, players have collected more than $12.1 million in instant scratch-off ticket prizes. Carolina Pick 3 players have won more than $1.9 million. Carolina Cash 5 players have won more than $598,000.

So how did you make out in Pick 4 this week?

Carolina Pick 4 players won more than $3.9 million including 408 tickets that won the top prize of $5,000. When the combination 6-6-6-6 was drawn Saturday afternoon, it led to a record $2.7 million payout and marked the fourth time in NCEL history ‘quads’ have been drawn. It is also the third time in as many months the record has been broken. More than 350 tickets were worth $5,000 in the drawing and 401 tickets are worth $2,500 each.

That's all for now. Have a safe and "lucke" weekend!

37 COMMENTS

11/23/2011 10:11 - NC Lottery

@ LAU8KAB - The odds of winning a prize playing any game are accurate for the entire printing run of a game, not a particular roll of tickets. There is no telling when or where a big-winning ticket will show up. The odds are exactly the same no matter where you live or play, its just that there are more stores and more players in larger places. Nobody knows where a winning scratch-off will show up until someone scratches it off.

11/23/2011 10:11 - NC Lottery

@ LAU8KAB - Through June 30 of this year, Robeson County players won more than $53.6 million in prizes. On instant games, there have been three $100,000 winners from Lumberton and one $500,000 winner who claimed in June of this year. Shares of three Cash 5 jackpots have gone to Robeson players from Fairmont and Maxton. Robeson County players have won 17 Powerball prizes of $10,000 or more, including three $200,000 wins.

11/22/2011 11:47 - laura b.

How many big winners from lumberton nc ? how many from the same places that win big over and over again, when a person buy 10 to 15 instant cards off same row and dont win any thing what does that tell you ? I know it every one choice but just how fair are this ticket beig put out with every county ?

11/15/2011 09:23 - NC Lottery

@ BK - We award about $2.4 million a day in prizes, which creates a mountain of data. We have a small team that does its best every day to share info about big winners, new games and other lottery news with players and the media. We'll keep doing the best we can to share that info here with folks like you in the Lucke-Zone :-)

11/14/2011 12:41 - Barbara K.

Thanks-Lucky-Zone I did see where my question was answered about Franklin County having 9 winners in a year but they were so small they did not even keep up with them.That is just sad!

11/14/2011 09:53 - NC Lottery

From 7/1/10 - 6/30/11, Davidson County players won more than $11.4 million in prizes.. from start-up through 6/30/11, Davidson players won more than $48.4 million in prizes

11/14/2011 09:45 - NC Lottery

@ BKEARNEY220 - Lottery funds benefit teacher salaries, school construction projects, at-risk prekindergarten and need-based college scholarships. The key piece of info is that last year's entire state education budget was approximately $10.9 billion with a B.. the NCEL provided $447 million to the state for education, which is a huge number, but closer to 5% of the total budget. So lottery funds will always make a difference but never cover everything that education programs need.

11/14/2011 09:43 - NC Lottery

@ BKEARNEY220 - You will probably notice that we've responded to your question on several blog pages where you asked.

11/14/2011 09:27 - NC Lottery

@ POPPINBUG - Applicable taxes are automatically withheld on lottery wins of $600 or more. That's just the law. If more than one person claims a prize, they split the winnings and taxes are withheld the same way.

11/13/2011 10:23 - sandra j.

how many winners and total amount has been won in Thomasville in the last year?

11/12/2011 07:26 - jeff l.

where is all that cash?

11/11/2011 02:14 - Barbara K.

9? In a whole county ? In a whole Year? All are such small winners you cannot even keep up with them?I think there should be a board that show all winners by county each week or month .Something is still not right about the winners,even the scratch offs are in the same areas.

11/10/2011 07:12 - Barbara K.

What does the lottery money supply for schools? Is it just used for buildings or is it used for whatever is needed for the school.The school my grandchildren go to are always asking for donations or supplies.WHY

11/10/2011 04:46 - Ryan K.

@bkearney220- Nine winners have won between $5,000 and $25,000 in the past year in Franklin County. We're not able to pull information about lower-tier prizes at this time.

11/10/2011 10:34 - Barbara K.

How many winners from Franklin County in the last Year?

11/10/2011 10:32 - Barbara K.

Fifth day I have ask this same question and no answer!Why? How many winners in the last year was out of Franklin County?

11/08/2011 09:26 - NC Lottery

@ CHAIRSTON - Lottery games offer the same chance of winning to everyone who plays, but they are games of chance and never offer a guarantee of winning... above all else, we wish you and your family well.

11/07/2011 09:15 - Tommy W.

i play all the time and never hit.but i still have hope that i will hit it big!!! good luck

11/06/2011 10:10 - Clarence H.

God has His hands on all the money includung the lottery. When he release what ever large amount to me, I want to be a good and faithfl steward.I want the money to be a blessing and not a curse to my life. I want God to make me head and not the tail, above and not beneath. I would like God to let me fullfill the purpose he has given me in His Kingdom.I want to thank God in advance for releasing my prosperity and promises of Abraham to me right now and to clear away all the barriers that is holding up my riches in the land.God has promised me all these things as I seek Him.

11/06/2011 08:23 - Richard D.

I am about out of cash for lotto,I was playing big,but now I am small.Good luck to all players.

11/06/2011 05:19 - LUVENIA J.

I HAVE NEVER WON ANYTING YET BUT IF I DO I WILL REMODEL MY HOUSE BECAUSE IT REALLY NEED IT IN SIDE.....THANK YOU ...BE BLESS

11/06/2011 03:38 - Carolyn S.

I have a steno pad in the table beside my tv chair...I write down what I want to remember to do, and what gifts and causes I don't want to forget when I win.

11/06/2011 12:50 - anthony k.

you buy a ticket with your money but they get half of your big win whats wrong with this picture?

11/06/2011 11:00 - elizabeth c.

I'm a survivor so I will continue to pray for those blessed numbers to come up for my family.A new house would be great ,but i would have to help others before I done anything for myself!!!!!! conrats everyone on your winnings!!!!

11/06/2011 02:57 - George E.

Cindy, at Carlton.s store in Clemmons, NC is very much liked and appreciated by the customers and is a big ASSET to the lottery. A+ to her.

11/06/2011 01:46 - Rosemary W.

CONGRATS to all the winners out there!!! We are still trying & believing. Now how about some of this luck trickle down Monroe's way for a good while. SEEMS like it wants to stay in the Northern part of the state......

11/06/2011 12:45 - Mike f.

A BIG Win is what Im waiting for Lord. A Big Win that changes my life and my world!!

11/06/2011 12:42 - rachel b.

starting to believe "i, my family is just meant to be poor"! Losing site of hope for those winning numbers. Maybe one day my family can't get some relief from all these finances... surgery. bills. surgery. illness. work. work. more illness. Come on just one win please.... Good luck to those out there struggling too & playing!

11/05/2011 10:29 - shawn r.

for I can take care of my family

11/05/2011 05:18 - Virginia B.

I want to win BIG

11/05/2011 04:38 - Tina K.

I hope Ican win a big chunk so I can keep my house.

11/05/2011 11:00 - Evelyn F.

I have not won anything big yet but I shall keep playing as I believe I shall win BIG TIME some day!!!

11/05/2011 09:30 - yvonne f.

only a small portion of 80 dollars was mine i will get it one day have to keep trying

11/05/2011 07:22 - Roger K.

playing cash5,still winning two numbers correct,sometimes three numbers correct.been a long time since i have hit 4 numbers right. hanging in for my big win though... congrats to all the winners.

11/05/2011 06:46 - Addie C.

I'm still trying.

11/04/2011 05:52 - george r.

i hope to win one day so i can fix up my house before it fall in or get me a used one or a new home...that all folks the american dream...

11/04/2011 05:52 - george r.

i hope to win one day so i can fix up my house before it fall in or get me a used one or a new home...that all folks the american dream...

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Weekly wrap-up: Powerball = WINNING

November 4, 2011 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:53 PM

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