A $3 million prize, a jackpot split, and a trip to Hollywood

December 30, 2011 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:58 PM

Now that they've won the lottery, several North Carolinians are ringing in the new year as big winners.

The biggest win of the week was the fourth-largest lottery prize awarded this year. Monica Wilson, a homemaker from Kannapolis, won the final top prize of $3 million in the $200 Million Extravaganza game. Since 2009, four other $3 million prizes were won by players from Hamlet, Cameron, Butner and Creedmoor, and Winston-Salem.

Players have brought two of the three tickets that split a $543,837 Cash 5 jackpot to lottery headquarters, each worth $181,279 for the Dec. 23 drawing. You can watch a YouTube video of Randleman resident Curtis Allred talking about his jackpot win, or read about a group of five friends who played together and won their share of the jackpot together.

As of Friday afternoon, the Cash 5 jackpot was still rolling at an estimated at $320,000 for the Friday draw. Since last Friday's update, Cash 5 players have won more than $834,000 in prizes. Pick 3 players collected more than $1.8 million and Pick 4 players scored more than $833,000, including 34 top prizes of $5,000.

Who's going to Hollywood? A carpenter from Statesville. After winning the final grand prize second chance drawing in the N.C. Education Lottery’s Wheel of Fortune game, Craig Peters will be packing his bags and heading west. He'll have the chance to play for more prizes during a nonbroadcast version of the popular show.

Instant winners scratched their way to more than $14.8 million in prizes this week. Among those folks, $10,000 wins went to players from Apex on $200 Million Extravaganza and Cameron on Carolina Gold. Two players, from Burlington and Randleman, won $10,000 playing $200,000 a Year for Life. A Sterling Silver prize of $20,000 was claimed by a player from Rockingham. And a Charlotte player won $40,000 playing our Big Win game.

That about does it for this week's update and, come to think of it, that about does it for 2011. As we mentioned last week, thanks for the time you shared with us here this year and we look forward to finding out who our first claimants of 2012 will be on Tuesday, Jan. 3 - see you here then. Hope your New Year's weekend is a fun, happy and safe one.

53 COMMENTS

1/27/2012 09:40 - NC Lottery

@ LINDA27 - Yes, the Bucks Family of games is always in stores. So we could see another Jumbo Bucks top prize winner any time! No way to know :-)

1/27/2012 12:09 - Linda H.

It seems strange that Jumbo Bucks was increased approx 3-4 months ago I think, and not one of the top prizes have been won. When I see other games increased I see those prizes being won fairly soon. Are you sure that that game really was increased and when was that top prize increased exactly? Thanks

1/20/2012 09:55 - NC Lottery

@ TAUGUST1970 - Yes but a winning ticket.. big small or huge.. could be any ticket on any roll in any store at any time. Every time someone gets a ticket, they have the same chances of winning a prize as anyone else. That's why its so important that tickets are distributed at random, so that everyone's odds are the same.

1/20/2012 08:38 - Thom B.

Just a thought. If my odds of winning the "top prize" on any scratch off is, let's say, 1 in 1.2 million on the exact day the tickets hits stores, HOW can I have those odds if all 5 "top prize" winning tickets are in packs that have not been distributed yet and are sitting in a box waiting to be used as "replenishments"? One would think that you can ONLY have those odds if ALL tickets are available at launch. They are not. So, technically your odds are 0 if all "top prize" winners are coincidently in the replenishment packs sitting in a box waiting to be distributed as replacements.

1/11/2012 10:37 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER - Regardless of where you live or play, the odds are EXACTLY the same. Over time, the odds of winning (and not winning) play out the same way in a big city as they do in a small town. A big winning ticket can show up anywhere at anytime. We are glad you like to play for fun and to help education.. and we wish you the best of luck with winning tickets, too :-)

1/10/2012 09:05 - bruce s.

lucke zone u have to be joking right,how can the odds be the same when people are winning more in one location than the other.how can the odds be the same i play for fun,education but like to win sometimes.

1/10/2012 01:20 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER - Again, we don't delete comments. You might need to look on some of the other blog pages because we get comments on recent blogs and old ones. As you've heard us say many times before, the odds of winning are the same no matter where you play. It's all a matter of luck.

1/10/2012 01:13 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER - We are posting your comments along with everyone else's. Please keep in mind that, while you can access the Lucke-Zone 24 hours a day 7 days a week, our offices are closed at night and on weekends. With more and more people joining the Lucke-Zone, there are more and more comments for our staff to post and respond to. Thanks for your patience

1/10/2012 01:05 - NC Lottery

@ PATZE - Our leadership team stays informed about what's going on in other states, but aside from that there isn't any news about that here in North Carolina. The current laws in our state wouldn't allow for what you're describing. If you're interested, you could ask your state legislator about it.

1/10/2012 11:10 - joe B.

GLAD YOUR VOICEING YOUR OPINON PATZE I GUESS I'M NOT WRONG.SURE I LIKE TO WIN LIKE EVERYONE ELSE GOT TO SCRATCH $100 WORTH OF TICKETS TO WIN 20 BUCKS.GOOD ODDS FOR THE STATE.

1/09/2012 09:49 - Patricia N.

Question for the LuckZone, Is NC going to get in on the out of state sale of Lottery tickets? I hope they don't let this opportunity go by. We would hate to see NC miss out on all that revenue. We saw on line that several states filed to sell on line? One state expects to be able to sell in two months? How does NC stand?

1/09/2012 09:13 - Patricia N.

Sorry,I'm with many. No luck here with scratch tickets. Three family members purchased 6 to 8 tickets 5$ games,2$ games,in a row, and at multiple locations, no winners? I purchased 12 tickets in a row and placed one under each dinner place for xmas surprise, surprise was one person with $1 winner?? Family had a laugh on us. Told us next year put the dollar under the plates. Have had much better luck in VA, GA, FL, CT. I also have just about stopped buying in NC. Hoping chances are better with Mega,Cash 5, giving up on PB with the increase.

1/09/2012 06:29 - bruce s.

lucke zone why are my comments not being posted.

1/08/2012 04:19 - Rosemary B.

Calabash, calabash, calabash! send us some winners....

1/08/2012 08:59 - bruce s.

wow what happened to my first post.about winners in southeastern nc we spend a lot of money on the lottery it would be nice to see some big winners here all i see is winners from small rural counties that dont spend the money we do here in hew hanover,brunswick,pender counties spread the wealth .

1/07/2012 05:05 - Barbara K.

lOOK AT THE WINNERS CHART---winners are from Durham west,especially Charlotte and surrounding areas-SYAYC-Look @ winners chart for each game.Do not put Gods name in the lottery as it is a sin to gamble!

1/07/2012 08:09 - William B.

I'M NEXT I'M ON HIS HEELS!LOL!!!

1/06/2012 06:28 - joe B.

THANKS GIZMO FOR YOUR IMPUT.HAND OVER FIST. MAYBE THEY WILL THROW A FEW WINNERS IN THE RALEIGH,WAKE FIELD AREA.KEEP US HAPPY.

1/06/2012 11:25 - NC Lottery

@ RIUNITI - There's not a date to announce yet, but everyone in the Lucke-Zone will be the first to know! :-)

1/05/2012 10:03 - shadavia c.

They may not be in Raleigh all the time, but seems like they are aroundthat area. But u have to just play for entertainment. I would like to win too, but God will give it to u n me when its our time!

1/05/2012 09:23 - Roderick L B.

WHEN WILL THE DRAWING FOR THE CAROLINA GOLD BE?I AM SOOOO CURIOUS THAT IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

1/05/2012 08:18 - christopher f.

Just a comment from the person who knew someone who bought a pack of one dollar tickets. The odds on the one dollar tickets are by far the worst of the instant denominations...1,2,3,5,10 and 20 dollar tickets! It's like 1 in almost 5 actually...I do agree though that if someone buys a whole pack, the pack should at least have breakeven payback. Yes, odds are what they are, but..If they state 1 in whatever, there should be some sort of prize at least after the fourth or fifth tickets bought...Honestly, the state is making hand over fist payback on the non winning tickets. It's all supposed to be about fun? Right? Every state is pretty much the same with these odds...You have to play to win and unfortunately, losing tickets happen more often than winning tickets. It's life! :)

1/05/2012 08:01 - james s.

People hve won in Raleigh.Its the people in the doweast counties that don t win big.

1/05/2012 04:10 - aprincesa g.

well I have never won and I'm from raleigh... It would sure be nice to see someone in this area win something... It's seems like all the big tickets are so far out.

1/05/2012 10:43 - NC Lottery

@ RITALOUISE - There was a glitch at one point with the emails going out. You should be getting them once a week, on Fridays, this year :-)

1/05/2012 10:41 - NC Lottery

@ PANTHERS - You have to remember a couple things: one is that in order to pay out prizes to players, many tickets will not be winning tickets; and another is that the odds of winning are for the entire printing run of a game, not for a particular roll of tickets. It's the only way to be fair to everyone who buys a ticket. We encourage folks to play for fun, not to spend more on playing lottery games than they can afford for entertainment.

1/05/2012 10:03 - Rita P.

i have been a lucky zone subscriber for years now. why am i not getting the e-mails for this year?

1/05/2012 08:18 - sunday a.

hopefully 2012 would be my year, happy new year.

1/05/2012 06:08 - joe B.

I SPOKE TO A MAN IN WAKEFIELD AND HE BOUGHT A WHOLE BOOK OF $1.00 TICKETS AFTER SCRATCHING THEM ALL HE HAD A GRAND TOAL OF $31.00.WOW HE SAID THE STATE IS SURE RACKING IN THE DOUGH. HE SOON WILL BE STOPPING THE SCRATCHIES.I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE TO BUY A BOOK OF $20.00 TICKETS AND PROVE A POINT.

1/05/2012 02:49 - George E.

I like the Powerball being @$2 and better odds for a win. George at Carlton'store. This is my year.

1/05/2012 12:16 - Dudley A.

If i don't grab a scratch off before and after work, my day just would'nt be right. I know my time will be soon. im 27 and never owned a car. so when i win im purchasing my firrst vehicle.

1/04/2012 05:04 - NC Lottery

@ MACMILLION - Statistically speaking, you would expect approximately one "triple" per hundred draws, give or take. So, while it's a little bit more than one per hundred, three out of 185 in the test draws is pretty close to that. Then, if you look at the number of "triples" that were randomly drawn as the winning numbers in calendar year 2011, you'll see that out of 730 draws, "triples" were drawn five times. Again, not exactly one per hundred, but that's exactly what you'd expect with random draw results. Test draws are critical to ensuring the equipment is working correctly for official drawings where winning numbers are certified.

1/04/2012 04:19 - Drema G.

Just started playing 2 mo's ago: $150 powerball, $100 scratch off. With money I've spent I'm still ahead by $74. Next stop: 2nd chance Carolina Gold that didn't win instant, but looking forward to being the $1 million 2nd chance winner! See you all along side of me in the winner's circle in 2012! A blessed and prosperous New Year!

1/04/2012 03:34 - Donnell G.

pre draws for dec 111, 222, 444..unreal!!!!!!

1/04/2012 11:00 - Russell k.

I hoping to win big this year....Happy New Years

1/04/2012 08:01 - martha a.

hope I get to jump in with a win this year.sure could use it.Happy new year !!!

1/04/2012 07:19 - Raymond L.

Enjoying playing the games. I will be a winner in 2012

1/03/2012 01:58 - Joerotha L.

both I and a co-worker had quick picks with 4 6 9 10 24, what a coincident

1/02/2012 09:46 - DB P.

Thank you for the games&fun! Happy New 2012 Year!

1/01/2012 11:45 - Teresa J.

I Pray that everyone is safe for the new year ahead and i prey that i win a BIG PRIZE this year

1/01/2012 03:23 - Rosemary B.

hmmmm....I'm still not seeing enough winners from southeastern NC. You have people in the Calabash area and points northward who deserve the same chance.....

1/01/2012 04:20 - sandra j.

Still no winners in Thomasville. Lots of us buy but seems as though no winning tickets ever make it to our little city.

1/01/2012 01:48 - sharolyn s.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2 EVERYONE 2012 IS MY YEAR!!!!!

1/01/2012 01:24 - George E.

George Ernst, from Carlton's Store,WISHES EVERYONE A H A P P Y N E W y e a r George from Carlton's Store wishes HAPPY NEW YEA George

12/31/2011 06:40 - jacqueline j.

i would love 2 b in the money

12/31/2011 10:10 - mildred s.

THANKS LUCK-ZONE HAPPY NEW KEEP THEM BIG$$$$$$COMEING IN 2012 LOVE THEM SCRATCH OFFS

12/31/2011 09:50 - KAY H.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. I AM GOING TO BE THE NEXT BIG WINNER.SEE YOU IN RALEIGH.

12/30/2011 08:01 - Nancy C.

I think it is about my time now

12/30/2011 07:27 - Yvonne M.

I Really Hope To Be One Of Those Big Winners! A Happy Healthy New Year To Everyone.

12/30/2011 07:07 - NC Lottery

We're with you @BIGMONEY !

12/30/2011 06:51 - ricky w.

Thanx 4 all the fun with the games & to all HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

12/30/2011 06:45 - NC Lottery

@ BENNIE - Thanks very much! Sounds good to us :-)

12/30/2011 06:00 - Bennie P.

To all at NCEL have a happy New Year! Hope to see you as a big winner in the New Year.

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A $3 million prize, a jackpot split, and a trip to Hollywood

December 30, 2011 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:58 PM

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