Lexington man wins 'lifetime' prize, Powerball on the rise

September 14, 2012 Posted by NC Lottery at 5:28 PM

Just more than two weeks since the "Week for Life" instant games began, the first top prize winner has collected his winnings. Ronnie Cromer of Lexington was in the car with his mother outside the store where he bought his $2,500 a Week for Life ticket when he found out about his good luck. “My mom actually scratched the ticket,” Cromer said. “I know everyone must have thought I was crazy because I started dancing right there in the parking lot.”

Jarvis Johnson Jr., a detention officer from Greensboro, said that though he is not a regular lottery player, something told him to purchase a Cash 5 ticket for the Sept. 6 drawing. A few hours later, his ticket matched all five numbers, winning the $226,039 jackpot. Meretta Daniel of Roanoke Rapids hit the jackpot to win $50,000 in the Sept. 7 Carolina Cash 5 drawing. She purchased her winning ticket at the Westside Grocery on West 10th Street in Roanoke Rapids.

North Carolina Powerball players have a chance to win a jackpot estimated at $125 million if taken as an annuity or $82.3 million if taken as a lump sum in Saturday’s drawing. The jackpot has climbed since the Aug. 15 drawing when a player from Michigan won the $337 million jackpot.

Several Powerball players this week collected their prizes from recent drawings. Prizes of $10,000 were awarded to Connie Beck of Boonville, Richard Davis of Winston-Salem, and Harry Dillingham of Weaverville. Richard Hix of Olin Power Played his way to a $40,000 win.

A pair of players, Colleen Grice of Wilmington and Janice McCarn of Matthews, cashed in their winning Mega Millions tickets for prizes of $10,000 apiece. A Mega Millions ticket that had the $1 Megaplier feature is worth $30,000 in the Sept. 11 drawing. The ticket, which has yet to be claimed, was sold at the Ponderosa Exxon on Yadkin Road in Fayetteville.

Let's take a closer look at the week's prize totals for North Carolina draw games:

Pick 3 players won more than $1.9 million in prizes.

Pick 4 players won more than $684,000 including 41 top prizes of $5,000

Cash 5 players won more than $534,000

Instant prizes totaling more than $13.7 million have been awarded since last week's update. Here's a breakdown of some of the big winners:

Leroy Long of Charlotte won $50,000 playing $100,000 Taxes Paid
Dorothy Sumner of Indian Trail won $24,000 playing 24 Karat Gold
Julia Darden of Dudley won $10,000 playing Carolina Black
Daniel Davenport of Winterville won $10,000 playing $2,500/Week for Life!
Randy McClure of Lexington won $10,000 playing $5,000/Week for Life!
Randall Saladin of Vanceboro won $10,000 playing $5,000/Week for Life!
Suzanne Thomas of Mint Hill won $10,000 playing Cash Spectacular
Harvey Whitley of Lucama won $10,000 playing $2,500/Week for Life!
Suk Yi of Arden won $10,000 playing $200,000/Year for Life

In all, the Education Lottery awarded more than $17.4 million in prizes to players of lottery games. Until next time, we hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend.

82 COMMENTS

9/15/2017 07:35 - thomas m w.

X The Cash drawing? It doesnt say who won.It just says TBD.I have enteries in that.NC Lottery
Looks like you are looking at the next X The Cash drawing. All the winners for the Aug. 9 drawing have claimed and their names are posted. Use the filter in the Second-Chance Drawings header on the Winner's Page and change it to "Expired." That's how you will see the names of the winners for the Aug. 9 X The Cash drawing.

9/13/2017 12:55 - Jackie P.

Hello, As of today 9/13/2017, please tell me how many players have won over $100 playing through the online subscription service? NC Lottery
Hey, Jade. Glad to answer your question. Subscription service started in December 2013. Our records show 872 players have won $100 to $500 playing through subscription and seven have won $600 or more. Subscription is a convenient way to get your tickets for four games, Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash 5 and Lucky for Life. Most lottery players still buy in traditional retail settings. Please remember where or how you buy a ticket has nothing to do with your chance of winning. The odds are the same if you buy your Powerball ticket through subscription or at your favorite retail location. Good luck.

8/15/2017 06:44 - Roger L.

When will the winners of the second chance Jeep drawings be posted. I'd love me a Jeep!NC Lottery
A winner's name can be announced only after he or she has responded to notification and completed the claim process. We understand why folks are eager to know who won. As soon as the information can be shared, the website will be updated. Here's how to see the results of drawings for which the claim deadline has already passed: http://bit.ly/2q9HzLO

6/09/2017 03:27 - Lisa R.

All I need is some of that . Please just let me win enough to get out of a bad situation. I don't need to be rich just on my way up . Prayers for all to win your dreams worth amen

5/06/2017 07:33 - Elma W.

How come you never hear about tickets that are purchase online winning only ones purchase at a store are their any winners at all for online players are just a waste of our money cause your never going hit off online numbers playedNC Lottery
The odds of winning playing through subscription services are the same as buying a ticket at a store. It's just that only a fraction of overall lottery ticket sales are made through subscription services at this time - less than 1% last year. We have had Powerball and Mega Millions players win thousands and a Cash 5 jackpot winner who played through subscription. So good luck to you however you like to play!

6/09/2015 09:56 - Ollie D.

Am I a winner yet? I have entered and entered and entered, is my name in there? lol I'm ready !!!!!

6/07/2015 11:48 - allison c.

It would be nice if the second chances had bigger prizes like 50,000 or more

12/23/2014 09:11 - Agatha B.

I think you didn’t read the quest. Has anyone won by entering online? and what has been the largest prize.

12/07/2014 07:51 - Agatha B.

I have asked this question as well; has anyone won by entering online. The most I have ever won has been $4.00. Time to head back to the stores. At least I won a couple of hundred dollars... here and there... zero dollars here.NC Lottery
The odds of winning via subscription or buying a ticket in a store are the same... but whichever way feels better to you - we wish you luck no matter what! :)

11/22/2014 01:53 - Sharon B.

It would be nice to hear from actual Luck-zone rewards winners on this blog. I check the winners names often since beginning this a couple years ago and it seems that I've seen the same names recorded from time to time. Not saying there could be some fraud happening here but has anyone here ever reached out to these people to see if they actually won? Non lottery employees? Anyone??NC Lottery
We've had some repeat winners. But they're all legitimate Lucke-Zone members! N.C. Education Lottery employees aren't allowed to play games that are sold in North Carolina. You are right though: We could do more to highlight Lucke-Rewards winner stories!

11/03/2014 11:16 - Rodney M.

Do you send more then one e-mail if a winner on lucke-zone. Play regularly and haven't won yet. my e-mail recently crashed and would hate to miss out!NC Lottery
Don't worry; if a winner doesn't respond to e-mail notification, we call - and even send certified mail if needed.

10/26/2014 10:56 - PRAVIN V.

Thanks for giving 100 points through Luke-Rewars.I have been playing lottery since the beginning in NC Lottery Game.I used to win little little amount,but I hope Lord have mercy by the grace of God i definetly hit a big jackpot amount of any kinda game.Good Luck everybody and myself.

10/17/2014 09:20 - Jonathan P.

All the store clerks reveal and scan the QR codes (on the tickets that have them) to get the value of winning tickets. I can do the same by myself at my local Kangaroo Express (only location I've found so far). I can ALSO SCAN THE QR CODE WITH MY SMART PHONE to get the Lucke Rewards entry code (combined "Ticket Number" and "Entry Number"), BUT I CAN'T just paste that into the "Ticket Entry" web page (or be told if it's a winning ticket and value like at the store)... BUT IT WOULD SURE BE SWEET AND EASY AND ACCURATE IF I COULD!! (Hint, hint!) And a LOT fewer Lucke-Reward players would be getting pissed off at NCEL for ticket-entry problems and blocking! (Hint, hint!) ;-)

10/02/2014 08:57 - mary s.

I say fix the computer to counter act that flaw.

10/02/2014 01:45 - mary s.

continuation of comment made regarding blocking when numbers are entered incorrectly several times ....usually its only one number that is wrong. entering all those numbers is time consuming and a little stressful. why is that not considered just a mistake but instead trying to cheat? what happens to those points I earn/paid for by loosing? not fair if taken away.NC Lottery
The computer doesn't know the difference between one number off and all numbers off, it just knows the code isn't correct. It's nothing personal, we promise! All we can say is be careful entering your tickets so you get your points.

10/02/2014 01:21 - mary s.

how is it okay to block someone from entering their 2nd chance numbers permanently? after all I'm entering 2 sets of long numbers...that's 150 times of looking at and trying to get the numbers in correct order. now if you enter the pink slip numbers, that's even more of a challenge. I was blocked today with the threat of a permanent block in 24 hrs. why? how can putting a number in wrong add up to that. if the number is wrong..its rejected. I correct it,,,so what is the problem? how can I cheat if the system is working as it shoud.NC Lottery
It's just a security measure in place to prevent other folks - not you! - from randomly trying to enter codes for points. Sorry about the frustration, please call our technical customer service if you have more problems: 855-767-1863

9/20/2014 09:35 - Agatha B.

Has anyone ever won over 600 dollars in the online subscriptions?

8/10/2014 11:44 - Maria M.

Why are you penalized if you have incorrectly hit the wrong letter or number while keying the 2nd chance tkts into player's acct? I happen to have a medical situation with neuropathy which I lose feeling in fingers and hands at times.This makes one feels like they have done something criminal.NC Lottery
We aren't trying to make you feel that way, we are just trying to avoid scammers trying random combinations to get points. Maybe someone can help you enter the tickets? If you have a technical concern, please call 855-767-1863

5/22/2014 06:12 - Gary M.

On the second chance drawings how do you find out who wins each weeks drawingNC Lottery
Drawings are conducted using a random number generator, under the supervision of an auditor, according to specific security procedures. The results are a matter of random chance. Each entry has the same chance of winning; more entries mean more chances to win. Good luck!

2/28/2014 08:42 - davishire a.

I love the fact that the lottery has came to NC, but I live in Greensboro and sorry to say I don't see many big winners except for the one last year and the one this year. Just would love for more winning big tickets here instead of the millions of two dollar ticket. Either way I am still going to play to help our School systems, plus I love the games, and I am going to win soon, cause I fell it. Good day to all lotto player. Good luck NC Lottery
We appreciate your comment... we do have winners in the Greensboro area often, because so many folks are taking a chance to win. Here is a link you can copy & paste for more info: http://bit.ly/1mKUVto

2/17/2014 12:01 - Anita M.

I've been playing for 2 months online, to no avail. I would love to win, even just enough to pay off the house and the one car. See, I'm not greedy! But if I won a ton of money, my husband could quit work, my daughter and son-in-law....and everyone would travel on mama's money!

2/13/2014 11:02 - dorothy d.

I am tired of people thanking the nceL is rigid if you don't enjoy playing don't play. its suppose to be fun.

12/30/2013 12:19 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (SALL2013) - The lottery's operations are reviewed and audited on a regular basis, and you're welcome to attend a live drawing to see the security measures that are in place to ensure the integrity of the drawings for all players.

12/25/2013 07:08 - bryan h.

My New Years resolution , is to quit purchasing instant tickets , because its a losing proposition.

12/24/2013 08:01 - Salmir S.

is lottery rigged? they probably pick winners that's why they have their address and names, telephones on file. They look at all peoples names and address telephone numbers that have registered on their website and when drawing date comes they just point pick and say alright lets pick this guy and that's how they come up with winners instead picking it randomly. They pick counties which country will win big. It has to be rigged. When they draw all games at 11.22pm that machine is rigged it picks numbers NOT randomly it picks exactly same numbers THEY want that machine to pick. There is air in those machines, one ball is lighter than other one , one is heavier than other one and so on. RIGGED. My opinion.

12/22/2013 08:39 - bryan h.

I was in a store last night , and was watching a man sratch a ticket , and what do u know he hit a 20x symbol. I was like u probably won 20$$$. To my surprise it was 20 times 20 , I was like i can't believe this . Considering the ncel track record.

12/19/2013 10:57 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (MARTYSON) - The lottery awards more than $2 million a day in prizes... and we've definitely had some big winners in your area, including a $1 million winner from Pikeville last year. Here's a link you can copy & paste for more info: http://bit.ly/1ho7Pas

12/18/2013 09:20 - Mary T.

maybe someday i win but i can't see the way . no one win big in Pikeville N.C. but never the less.I'LL Keep playing a little longer.

10/08/2013 06:58 - Linda R.

I want to winners big to.

9/30/2013 12:34 - NC Lottery

@ STORKRN54 - We have winners from all different parts of the state, all the time. You can copy & paste this link into your browser and click through the pages at the bottom to see winners from the various regions of North Carolina. No player has an advantage or disadvantage when it comes to winning a prize playing the lottery. http://bit.ly/HbkZrz

9/28/2013 01:42 - susan m.

Eastern NC never has any big winners. It is discouraging. Guess I'll have to go to the Piedmont or Western NC to buy tickets.

8/18/2013 09:01 - Ahmad D.

Streamline live, like: powerball, megamillion, and pick 3, 4, 5 numbers, drawing may be a good idea so the winner will know it instantly.

8/17/2013 03:53 - Ahmad D.

I think NCEL should do the luck-e rewards live on-line so that people can see the live drawing like powerball, megamillion, as well as picks 3, 4 and 5.

8/15/2013 02:39 - merilyn w.

yes im getting tired of entering the luck-e rewards I had up to 100 entries or 260 in one and did not win a thing. sometimes I wonder if its worth my time. I guess it just a chance you have to take of loosing!

8/12/2013 01:34 - KYM B.

I imagine a time when I can just go to my computer and buy any ticket or entry for any drawing. I could use a debit card or buy a lottery card from an agent for whatever amount I would want. Scratch tickets would have the option of revealing one spot at a time or the whole ticket at once. I could choose my numbers and submit them instantly for any drawing. All my info would be on file so my winnings could be automatically transferred from my NCEL account to my bank whenever and how much that I wanted. Maybe one day in the future. (smile)

7/04/2013 08:05 - Cherylene W.

patience your luck will come and share your wealth with the needy

7/04/2013 10:15 - Shirley D.

Money Money Money Mon-ney$$$ Somebody got to win and I know that I am of being the one to lose. So I think that I am going to keep on playing- How bout you$$$

6/06/2013 10:49 - jimmie k.

I need to win biggggggg

4/26/2013 01:37 - NC Lottery

@ TAMMIENEWSOME: Definitely! Copy & paste this link into your web browser for more info: http://bit.ly/ZS5la9

4/26/2013 09:55 - tammie n.

how about in richlands? is there anything bigger than 1000?

4/20/2013 11:31 - NC Lottery

@ POWERXX - The lottery first attempts to notify winners of Lucke-Rewards drawings at the e-mail address associated with their Lucke-Zone account, usually within 48 hours of the drawing. If the winner doesn't respond to e-mail, we attempt to reach them by telephone, then certified mail if necessary. A winner's name is only announced after he/she responds to notification and completes the claim process.

4/18/2013 11:07 - Anthony J.

I might have trash my email letting me know I've won,how will I know.some say notified and not the winners name.

4/05/2013 02:22 - NC Lottery

@ YVONNE - You can copy & paste this link into your web browser for more information about winners from Morehead City. http://bit.ly/16C7uvj ... Winning on a lottery ticket or a second chance drawing is all a matter of luck. There are many players across the state playing for the chance to win

4/04/2013 09:30 - yvonne w.

Morehead city must be out of the winning loop, except for a scratch ticket now an then. I work myself to death on the second chances..........what good does it do

3/08/2013 10:05 - NC Lottery

@ VINNY - Through June of 2012, Buncombe County lottery players won more than $143.4 million in prizes. That includes the ~$69 million lump sum of the jackpot won by Frank Griffin (which had an annuity value of $141.4 million)

3/07/2013 07:22 - Roy H.

How about Buncome County--Asheville,NC-for as winners amount - I know we had a 47 million $$ winner

3/04/2013 11:58 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (MST) - No matter how you pick your numbers, quick pick or on your own, you always have the same chance to win. It takes a lot of luck to win a lottery prize big or small no matter how you play.

3/03/2013 12:48 - tonya j.

Wow I spend soo much in lottery and never win :( guess im the donator..lol Congrats to all that have won!! My day will hopefully come...does anyone ever win in Wendell NC..where i live...I hope to be the won to Post it here...love pic 3 and 4 and cash 5 just can't get it always one number or so off..Should I stick to my same numbers or switch up or start doing quick picks..

2/01/2013 12:54 - NC Lottery

@ PIRATE_2015 - You've got the same chance to win as a player anywhere else. Remember that, even when one or more winning tickets are sold in a big city.. there were many non-winning tickets sold there too. It's all a matter of luck - we wish you the best of luck!

2/01/2013 04:27 - Briana M.

I wonder why there are very few winners in our small town, the tickets are selling fast. When I ask the store clerks, they say no body has won any thing big. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

1/03/2013 10:16 - NC Lottery

@ PROUDGRANDMA59 - There is a notification & claim process that must be completed before a winner's name can be announced in a drawing. Take a look at our most recent blog entry for more info about that.

1/02/2013 07:25 - Brenda E.

who were the winners of the last 2 wednesday drawings for 2,500. The winners are not listed yet.

12/21/2012 09:20 - David H.

The ncel say luck reward drawings are based on the amount of entries, what is the average # of entries per winner, or is that none of my business. My entries are 3 to 25, been p Quinn the

12/09/2012 03:33 - John S.

Can the bull city get some lottery love for the holidays?

11/16/2012 10:21 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYERGHANE - Through June 30, 2012, players in Henderson County have won more than $32.2 million in prizes. Best of luck!

11/16/2012 10:20 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (HB) - We have winners from places big and small. Everyone has the same chance of winning. Best of luck!

11/13/2012 08:23 - Brian Y.

it seems that alot of small counties/towns have won/winning big tickets, when it seems as if most of the cities have bum scatch off tickets..

11/13/2012 08:50 - Thane G.

how much has Henderson county Won?

11/08/2012 08:34 - mark p.

approxamately how many people actually have entered the new drawings on lucke rewards or the other new drawings?

11/08/2012 05:19 - NC Lottery

@ EVERYONE - The Lucke Rewards drawings were held as scheduled and the winners have been notified by e-mail. Make sure to check the e-mail account that you have listed with your Lucke-Zone account. The winners' names will be announced only after they come to a regional claim center to complete the claims process.

11/08/2012 07:24 - james b.

were the monthly and weekly drawings held yesterday?

9/26/2012 11:54 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (C) - Through 6/30/11 ... Craven County players won more than $47.8 million in prizes.

9/19/2012 10:26 - NC Lottery

@ DREAMER - Folks in N.C. have the same chance of winning the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpots as people in New York or California; the odds are the same for everyone, there's just more people in those places. We're glad we've had five multimillion dollar jackpot winners here :-) As for a six-number lotto game in N.C. - we're still a young lottery. That could happen in the future. Our last couple raffles weren't as popular with everyone as they were with some of our regular players. So sometime down the line you might see another one.

9/19/2012 10:04 - Linda W.

Houston, we have a problem! It appears that New York and California are winning the Mega Millions and the Powerball. It would be nice if we had bigger chances within NC, something like Hot Lotto in DC or what about the raffle, that was nice. The raffle had several winners, at least you thought you had a half way decent chance.

9/18/2012 10:44 - ella r.

win for life games,i'm on it!!

9/18/2012 06:28 - Dennis C.

I imagine that entering your stratch offs in the Lucke Zone rewards program will be a way to double check your cards for a winner. Look forward to it and thanks.

9/17/2012 07:53 - cassandra e.

Craven County

9/17/2012 11:06 - NC Lottery

@ NOEL - If you want to know how much has been won in prizes in a particular COUNTY in North Carolina, we can look up that information and share it with you.

9/17/2012 11:05 - NC Lottery

@ LUCKLESS - That's exactly how it works. The prize is guaranteed for AT LEAST 20 years to the winner (or, if something were to happen to the winner, his or her estate). It's our hope that winners of the "for life" prizes get much, much more than the minimum! :-)

9/17/2012 11:04 - NC Lottery

@ EVERYDAYBELIEVINGJOE - Right now, there are no plans in place to do that. But it is absolutely a possibility in the future. Thanks for taking time to ask/comment

9/17/2012 09:42 - Candace B.

As I have visited other states such as Pennsylvania and Illinois, I've noticed that they have self lottery check machines in which scratch offs as well as all other lottery tickets (pick 3, pick 4, etc.) can be checked without having to hand them to the clerk to check for winnings on their regular lottery machine. Is this a project that would be considered to implement in NC?

9/16/2012 04:56 - Demetriceroyster R.

When are my time coming?

9/16/2012 01:13 - clyde m.

love it

9/15/2012 10:34 - Monica C.

Me toooo!!!!!! Good Luck!!!$$$

9/15/2012 09:26 - Angela B.

Me too and, I will!

9/15/2012 09:20 - shaking c.

IM HiT BIg

9/15/2012 07:34 - ornincy d.

i would like to know tha filing.

9/15/2012 02:50 - larry f.

i also would like win needless to say and win big !

9/15/2012 01:40 - pennye g.

we will all win one day !!!

9/15/2012 01:37 - jerry s.

If a "for life" ticket winner takes the annuity, can they list a beneficiary in case he dies before the guaranteed amount is collected?

9/14/2012 07:14 - Shawn V.

Just wondering, is there anywhere on the NC Lottery website or someother webiste, where you can see a list of total dollars won by each Town in NC?

9/14/2012 06:19 - Cory H.

Man, wish I could hit it big!!!!!!!!!!!

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Progressive Jackpot Estimate

Lexington man wins 'lifetime' prize, Powerball on the rise

September 14, 2012 Posted by NC Lottery at 5:28 PM

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