Ticket Tuesday brings four new games

July 30, 2013 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:01 AM

Do you look forward to the debut of new scratch-off games? If so, go ahead and circle the first Tuesday of every month on your calendar. Why? Because starting on Aug. 6, new scratch-off games will show up in stores on the first Tuesday of every month. We call it “Ticket Tuesday.”

To kick off the first Ticket Tuesday, a new suite of multiplier-themed games is coming out, including a game that gives players the chance to win a $1 million prize.

50X The Cash is a $10 game featuring five top prizes of $1 million and more than $46 million in total prizes. To win a prize, players match any of 15 numbers to one of six winning numbers. Players who reveal a “50X” symbol win 50 times the prize shown instantly. Approximate overall odds of winning including breakeven prizes are 1 in 3.45.

The new $5 game, 20X The Cash, begins with six top prizes of $200,000 and more than $23.7 million in total prizes. Players who reveal a “Double Moneybag” symbol win double the prize shown. Players can also multiply their prizes by revealing a “5X” or “20X” symbol. Approximate overall odds of winning including breakeven prizes are 1 in 4.09.

10X The Cash is a $2 game that launches with six $50,000 top prizes and more than $8.8 million in total prizes. Players can multiply their winnings by revealing a “2X” or a “10X” symbol. Approximate overall odds of winning including breakeven prizes are 1 in 4.79.

Rounding out the game launch is the $1 game, 5X The Cash, which begins with 10 top prizes of $10,000 and more than $4.5 million in total prizes. Revealing a “5X” symbol wins five times the prize amount shown. Approximate overall odds of winning including breakeven prizes are 1 in 4.88.

What do you think of these new games, Lucke-Zone? Look out for brand new games on the next Ticket Tuesday, Sept. 3.

131 COMMENTS

11/04/2013 12:17 - NC Lottery

@ BETTER - Different lottery games have different prize structures. The way the lottery works here in North Carolina is out in the open for you to understand. Most of what is spent on a lottery ticket is paid back to players in prizes. After the cost of operating the lottery and paying commissions to retailers for selling tickets, the lottery's "profits" benefit education. No matter where you play games of chance, it takes a lot of luck to beat the odds and win a prize. If you choose to play the lottery in North Carolina, we hope you'll do it for fun knowing all of these facts.

11/01/2013 10:38 - bryan h.

Yea but Thts not many 500$$ winners on a scratch off tht doesn't have any big prizes on it now does it.thts 1.4 mill in 500 $$ prizes when most 5$ games has 10 to 15 mill in total prizes so why don't you tell me nc lottery.You lottery employees are making a killing.

10/02/2013 12:09 - NC Lottery

@ BETTER - We are sorry to hear you haven't had luck on those particular tickets, but you have to keep in mind that most scratch-off tickets for a particular game are not winning tickets. Of the 2,864 prizes of $500 for that particular game, 391 are still unclaimed as of this morning. So as you can see, many players have won prizes playing the game. It's all a matter of luck, sometimes it takes just one ticket.

10/01/2013 12:55 - bryan h.

Another nc lottery false advertisement the hit 500s are suppose to be loaded with 500$$$ winners I've personally bought at least 30 of them haven't won but 25$$$ a lotta of ppl i know have bought em and none of them have won 500$$ just a tactic to get us dummies to buy them.

8/22/2013 01:47 - NC Lottery

@ BASEBALLMOM - We have heard every variation on your question: Big city vs. small town; east vs. west. The truth is it takes a lot of luck to win the lottery no matter where you live or play. If you tell us what town and county you're in, we can look up some info on winners from your neck of the woods. Good luck to you

8/22/2013 07:07 - Stacy S.

Tired these several times and dont get anything we need some winners in our area never heard of anyone winning in the small towns

8/15/2013 10:43 - Diana D.

OK, so I scratched off the latex to the far left of the ticket, (which is blue, and not white where I had originally scratched off the latex) and now I have the numbers to enter. Thanks!

8/12/2013 02:49 - NC Lottery

@TUMBLEWEED @WANDACHARLTON @LMAC + @EVERYONE - If you're playing the new $1 or $2 "multiplier" games and are looking for the numbers you're expecting to see on the front of the ticket, make sure to scratch all the latex off... you'll see the entry code you're looking for!! :-)

8/12/2013 02:07 - NC Lottery

@ MISSV - Hard to say if it means anything. You are welcome to call our player customer service toll-free at 877-962-7529 and explain anything that gives you concern about something specific that happens at a retailer.

8/12/2013 08:00 - CHRISTINA S.

I had over 500 entries between the various drawings for 8/7 and of course I was not a winner. You definitely have to be lucky to win a second chance prize. I'm still going to play, but am definitely going to cut back. Besides, it only takes one entry to win. It still would be nice to see a post from someone who actually won.

8/11/2013 10:37 - Diana D.

I purchased two 5X The Cash tickets, and went to enter them in the Second Chance Drawing, but the numbers on the front of the ticket look like machine language and are not readable, except for the numbers 251 and 252, at the far right bottom corner. What number am I supposed to enter to get 4x the points?

8/11/2013 06:20 - Brian D.

REPOSTING...I am having trouble finding my old post. Anyways, I wish that they would break the prize odds down by combinations. For example give all odds for a possible winning combinations for something like a hundred bucks. ( 20x5, 10x10, 100, 100 with symbol, etc.) The new games are not that great unless you take your chances with a roll. I seen the 10 dollar game go 8 in a row before a win. At least then you can say I got half my money back on a roll instead of saying I lost on a single ticket. You never know, the big one just may be in there, or is the one after the one you just purchased.

8/11/2013 02:32 - Victoria W.

Luck-Zone I went in to by a ticket and the employee held the ticket up to the light and gave me the ticket. I wonder why this person did that. That was weird!!!!

8/09/2013 12:23 - Wanda C.

I bought tickets too. how do you enter them without all the numbers on the front?

8/09/2013 08:38 - Wanda C.

How come I can't enter these new tickets in the second chance drawing? Tried. But there's bar code in front of the tickets. Help!

8/09/2013 08:15 - CHRISTINA S.

The $10 new ticket seems to be hard to win anything. I bought 4 in a row last night, and NOTHING. However, I did see a 5X win on the $5 ticket, for a whopping $25! I've gotten some $4 wins on the $2 tickets, but nothing major. Guess we gotta keep on scratchin to win!

8/08/2013 11:35 - Leonard M.

how do i put in the numbers from the bar code on the new 5x the cash games. it seems the numbers look like a bar code and are unreadable. can some one please help me out with this,thanks in advance.

8/08/2013 08:15 - Brian D.

Just a suggestion on the scratch offs. When giving the prize odds for a given game. You guys should list all possible combinations of winning a given prize with the odds for that combination. FOR EXAMPLE 100 dollar win. 10.00 x 10........odds 100 with bill symbol...........odds 5.00 x 20................odds 50.00 x 2...............odds etc. Check out the South Carolina lottery page they do that for the players.

8/08/2013 06:05 - Victoria W.

I just love this, I bought a $5 dollar 20x game and it game me 20 points and today I bought another $5 dollar 20x game and it game me 100 points. Wow!!!

8/08/2013 01:04 - lisa h.

Hopefully I win soon I have been playing for a long time..I guess when its your time you will know:) very wishful...

8/07/2013 09:51 - NC Lottery

@ JOSEPH - The lottery has moved a larger % of prize money for some instant games from the break-even prizes to "meaningful" prizes, such as $50. In order to do that, the overall odds of winning anything including a break even prize must get longer. You may have seen recent conversations on the blog about break-even prizes; some players truly enjoy winning their money back because they have the option of taking another chance to win a prize at no additional cost; other players say they'd rather have fewer break-even prizes and more chances to win larger prizes. So when you're researching prizes on the game-specific pages on our website, take a look at all the different prize levels. The overall payouts are all better than they were when the lottery began. Good luck!

8/07/2013 09:11 - Joseph S.

@WINNER.. Same thing with me. I haven't won on the new Multiplier tickets either. I've bought five of the new $10 tix and no wins. The odds are getting worse on new tickets. What happened to odds of 1:3.12 like it was on the old $500,000 Jackpot game?

8/07/2013 06:02 - James R.

This is the second day that I've played these new tickets & it's the second day I've won NOTHING at all. Guess my luck is down...hope that all changes soon. Oh, good luck to the Powerball Winner tonight!

8/05/2013 03:32 - NC Lottery

@ MICHAEL924 - Nobody has any idea which ticket is a winning ticket until it is scratched off. When a retailer scans the ticket, the terminal indicates whether or not it has won a prize of $1 to $599, or if the player needs to claim at the lottery. If you have more questions, please call our player customer service # at 877-962-7529

8/05/2013 01:08 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (JOYCECOOPER) - We share the information you're asking about with anyone and everyone. Just visit our website and click on "Where the Money Goes" to review county-by-county totals of lottery funds to specific education programs. Players & retailers have helped us raise more than $2.9 billion to help pay for teachers' salaries, local school construction, prekindergarten for at-risk four-year-olds, as well as college scholarships & financial aid based on need.

8/05/2013 12:51 - michael c.

So how do other scratch off players think Retailers are "watching the rolls?" I don't see how they can determine when a winner will be had??

8/04/2013 09:44 - Joyce C.

If Lottery money is going for "education" why are all the schools still crying for money....and we can't hire teachers? HHHMMMM Would be interesting to see a "real" breakdown of where the $$ is going..and by the way, I trustingly have been playing for a looong time and no win......JC

8/04/2013 09:20 - michael c.

Sorry, you misunderstood my question. I was asking the scratch off buyers how they assume certain stores are following the scratch off tickets they sell? How can the store owners know which tickets are winners

8/04/2013 10:55 - NC Lottery

@ MLB10846 - A suite of five holiday-themed games is scheduled to come out to celebrate the season, including a $10 ticket with a $1 million top prize. Stay tuned to the Lucke-Zone for new games announcements!

8/04/2013 10:49 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (CSUMMERS76) - The winner of $1 million in the MONOPOLY drawing has responded to the lottery's notification. If you click on the "WINNERS" tab in the Lucke-Rewards area of the Lucke-Zone, you can click to see the status of winners for every drawing - if they've been notified or.. if they've claimed.. who won. Good luck to you :-)

8/04/2013 10:46 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (BARTIE) - So far, players have won 1,117 prizes of $500 in the game, 423 prizes of $250, and thousands of other prizes. We are sorry to hear that you haven't had good luck on the game, but everyone has the same chance to win.

8/04/2013 09:58 - steve b.

I don't know how other players are doing on the scratch-off game; Hit $ 500 ? I bought @ least 100 tickets since the game came out and have not won a single dime!! the only 'person' that hit $500 was NCEL hitting my $500 spending; worth of rotten tickets!! If I didn't have bad luck ~ I'd have no luck at all!!

8/04/2013 07:35 - CHRISTINA S.

REPOSTING...This question was never answered.... "So I guess if you didn't already receive an email, you're not a winner for the 7/31 drawing???? It would be nice to get even one win. I'd also like to see some winners from the second chance drawing post on the blog; give the rest of us some hope! :) "

8/03/2013 07:11 - Mitchel B.

Is there going to be a Merry Christmas LOTTO give away? Like a $20 ticket 1st prize $500,000 after taxes, 2nd prize $200,000 after taxes, 3rd prize $100,000 after taxes, 4th prize 2014 Mustang, 5th prize 2014 Harley-Davidson of your choice. We need too change up the Lotto to get some more people PLAYING, in State and out of State! That would be all most like giving away 2 million dollars. Hope to see something like that soon.

8/03/2013 05:22 - NC Lottery

@ HEIMER - If you've been reading the blog for any length of time, you have seen that you're not the only player to make this type of suggestion. The first thing you have to remember is that, while some players would rather have 60 chances to win $50,000... many lottery players enjoy the chance to play for a very large top prize, such as $3 million. We recognize that there are other types of players out there, which is why we have the "HIT $500!" scratch-off game, and the Hot Summer 2nd Chance drawings that offer 20 prizes of $5,000 per drawing. Good luck to you!

8/03/2013 05:20 - NC Lottery

@ EARL2212 - #3 - Since the new Powerball game started, matching five white balls on a $2 ticket is automatically worth $1 million. A match five on a $3 ticket is worth $2 million. #4 - If you are not enjoying yourself playing games of chance, it might be better to take a break. It is supposed to be fun and there is never a guarantee of winning, whether you've played once before or a hundred times before. The games are fair but it takes a lot of luck to win. Thanks for taking time to comment on the blog and best wishes to you.

8/03/2013 05:20 - NC Lottery

@ EARL2212 - #1, the lottery pays out a higher % today than it did when the lottery started. Players win about $2.8 million a day, but it will always be true with lottery games - no matter where you play them! - that there are more non-winning tickets than winning tickets. It is that basic idea that makes it possible to have the chance to win a big prize. #2 - Lucke-Rewards points are an extra benefit to players to offer more chances to win at no additional cost. We wish we could tell everyone after a drawing that they are a winner. It is not a matter of public record how many points a player used to enter a drawing, so its not our place to report it.

8/03/2013 05:10 - NC Lottery

@ LADYLUCK - Winning tickets for any scratch-off game, including top prizes, are distributed at random throughout the entire printing run of the game. There's no truth to the idea that there are more winners at any particular time; one reason you might see more winning tickets early on is because new games are very popular with players; any time MORE people are taking a chance to win, you're going to have MORE tickets both winning & non-winning being scratched.

8/03/2013 05:05 - NC Lottery

@ MICHAEL924 - We don't understand your question. If a player presents a winning ticket at a retailer and the prize is between $1 and $599, the amount of the win is displayed on-screen. If its $600 or more, the message says that the prize must be claimed at the lottery (one of our regional claim centers)

8/03/2013 04:59 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (BJEANK) - As you probably know, we've had some very lucky tickets in the Roxboro area lately! http://bit.ly/16rtSc1

8/03/2013 12:35 - Betty K.

I would love to see more winnersin ROXBORO....

8/03/2013 08:32 - michael c.

So how would a retailer know if a scratch off ticket was a winner to hold it out of distribution? Wouldn't they have to know the serial number listed under the scratch off cover on front to know? Not sure one can tell by only if ticket is #7 or 15? Neighborhood stores tend to show off they have lots of winners vs chain stores.

8/03/2013 01:39 - CHRISTINA S.

So I guess if you didn't already receive an email, you're not a winner for the 7/31 drawing???? It would be nice to get even one win. I'd also like to see some winners from the second chance drawing post on the blog; give the rest of us some hope! :)

8/03/2013 12:13 - Sandra S.

I noticed that when a new scratch 0ff debuts the fist couple of days there are winners, then they seem to get lost. Is there some truth that the first 2 or 3 days you notice winers then like I said the ticket goes dead. Then I heard that winning tickets are not even circulated until a later time. I noticed this trend in New York as well.

8/02/2013 08:39 - m. earl b.

this is to answer"player said" the odds are going up because they are selling more non winning tickets to pull in the money. with all of these second chance games they are keeping a count on how many losers out here.and i have lost a lot.i am fed up with the lottery not posting besides the name how many points these people had when they won. i know it can be from 1 to 10m but i think it would be interesting to all the losers that have submitted their HARD EARNED POINTS! july was the worse month that i have had. i met a lady in the store that said the same thing. if i have any money left i might try the new game on tuesday. oh! i notice that everybody that wins the 1m off powerball plays the $2 tickets. what's up with that? hm........... anybody out there have on their thinking cap?

8/02/2013 07:37 - WILLIAM B.

On the Holiday Millions second chance drawing. Wouldn't it be better if in the future you have 60 people win $50,000 rather than one person winning 3 million? Why one big winner when you can make a lot folks happy with a sizable win? Is there a reason for this?

8/02/2013 11:59 - Colleen H.

I like the machines but wish they took a debit card. It's a pain to have exact amount so I usually skip them!!

8/02/2013 10:14 - NC Lottery

@ GLORY - Over time, the lottery plans to continue introducing more technology that makes it more convenient for players and retailers to enjoy the lottery.

8/02/2013 10:14 - NC Lottery

@ COWBOYS - As we mentioned before, please call our customer service # if you ever have specific info about a specific retailer that you feel is concerning. 877-962-7529

8/01/2013 09:51 - sarah j.

Please put lottery machines in all the stores, that way you're not holding up others that are paying for gas or food. That would be so much better. I've had people to really get ill when they were waiting to pay for a drink and I would be cashing in or purchasing tickets and I have often let them go ahead of me.

8/01/2013 08:08 - michael c.

Enjoy reading the comments! Just spend what you can after savings and paying your bills. I enjoy the new scratch off games. I think Jumbo Bucks has run it's course.

8/01/2013 04:55 - Mark C.

I agree with the two posters above. I suggest to everyone to play out of the machines. If you dont, you are playing the odds and the retailers both. These retailers work these rolls. I see it everyday. For that reason I buy from various machines so that I know I am playing the true odds.

8/01/2013 04:28 - NC Lottery

@ GORAMS15 - #2, Just as we suggested to the other Lucke-Zone member, if you ever see something that concerns you, please call our player customer service so that the lottery has the information. We appreciate our players and retailers very much!

8/01/2013 04:27 - NC Lottery

@ GORAMS15 - #1, different ball sets and ball machines are selected at random before every drawing. Each drawing is a random result, there is always a 1 in 1000 chance of any Pick 3 combination and 1 in 10000 chance of any Pick 4 combination being drawn in the random drawing. The odds don't change based on previous drawing results.

8/01/2013 04:15 - Reneta M.

I age with the OLDLADY, I also see this going on. They watching the scratch offs harder than we are,especially some of these neighborhood stores. One stores displays the games tickets through a home made glass board, but the tickets under the counter. One store I saw the retailer pull a ticket laid it down and gave the customer the next one. I will never go there again. She is right because I have seen it. Kmart has one so thats where I go. No, one is there to oversee anything because its their store.

8/01/2013 03:59 - Reneta M.

Looks like alot of people here play the scratch offs or the mega, powerball and cash 5. I play the pick 3 and four alot. I wish I had time to enter the tickets I have not entered since April, trying to win big on these 2 lottery games. I have atleast 2 months of entries, but what good would it do, the odds for second chance is not any better.Day after day and week after week , I am one digit off from my numbers. NC I think you need to better than this only to see a twisted number come out. No one number should play that much. Get some maintence on the machine and some new lottery balls.

8/01/2013 03:37 - NC Lottery

@ OLDLADY - Not sure we understand exactly what you're describing, but if you wouldn't mind giving our player customer service number a call toll-free, maybe you could explain it to them? Thank you: 877-962-7529

8/01/2013 03:12 - Colleen H.

I see your point and thanks again. I did quit playing powerball when the price went up and stuck with cash 5 for that reason.

8/01/2013 02:59 - Christine W.

I think all stores need lottery machines when buying tickets I found the stores selling from differences rolls of tickets if brought a ticket then came back and brought another from the same roll no one brought any tickets the numbers 7 and the other15 and he was pulling from the same roll

8/01/2013 02:36 - carolyn b.

I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THE 750,000 ON JUMBO BUCKS.......AROUND 510,000 AFTER TAXES......

8/01/2013 01:01 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (SUEHUSKINS) - We see your point understand there is a whole spectrum of players out there... that's why we offer a whole range of games at different price levels, that offer different top prizes and different odds of winning... something for everyone, we hope! :-)

8/01/2013 12:04 - Colleen H.

Thank you and I understand the popularity of the giant jackpots because no one wants to miss out but what I was saying is because of the economy smaller jackpots are more popular like the hit 500 has shown by selling out. I was just responding to your comment that more people like the huge jackpots which I really don't believe is all that true in this day of hard times.

8/01/2013 11:28 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (SUEHUSKINS) - You only have to look at how much Powerball ticket sales increase when the jackpots get big to see how central the jackpot is to Powerball playership. We offer lots of different games that offer less extreme top prizes and better odds of winning them - like Cash 5. We're thrilled that Hit $500! has been popular, and so its is entirely possible you'll see even more options in the future :-)

8/01/2013 11:24 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (PICK3FORNC) - Part II: Please recognize that as the moderators of the NCEL Players' Club blog, this isn't a place where any user is going to hurl a bunch of unfounded accusations against the lottery and then we publish that and don't respond. At the same time, please do not expect that this in any way the right place for drawn-out arguments. So, you mentioned our response to the player's question about winners from the Kings Mountain area. We are concerned that you did not see the link that we shared that displays 12 Google search page results worth of winners from that particular area. Here is that link again: http://bit.ly/13mLTYk

8/01/2013 11:24 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (PICK3FORNC) - Part I: As a matter of fact, the NCEL is in the middle of the pack compared to our regional neighbors when it comes to cash payout on instant scratch-off games, which fits exactly with our steady approach to offering fair games of chance and living up to our mission to responsibly raise funds for education. The NCEL pays out a higher amount and percentage in instant prizes today than it did when the lottery began in 2006. You can tell that this balance is working well, because players are winning more than ever before, education has received more each year in lottery funds, and the lottery is more popular than its ever been.

8/01/2013 11:23 - NC Lottery

@ EWILKINSON - The lottery has moved a larger % of prize money for the instant games you're talking about from break-even prizes to "meaningful" prizes, such as $50. In order to do that, the overall odds of winning anything including a break even prize must get longer. You may have seen recent conversations on the blog about break-even prizes; some players truly enjoy winning their money back because they have the option of taking another chance to win a prize at no additional cost; other players say they'd rather have fewer break-even prizes and more chances to win larger prizes. So when you're researching prizes on the game-specific pages on our website, take a look at all the different prize levels.

8/01/2013 11:14 - Colleen H.

I think it may be time you re-survey people on the huge jackpots. Because of the economy people I have asked would rather have smaller and more jackpots vs one humongous jackpot. Also it is evident with the new hit 500 scratch offs that stores in my area can't keep in stock. I have not asked thousands but have asked over 50 people and all said the same thing. Smaller and more!! Not sure if NCEL does it's own R&D or if that is sub'd out but times have changed!!!

8/01/2013 10:25 - NC Lottery

@ COWBOYS - We understand the feedback about the multiplier games and have passed it along to the proper staff. Hopefully we have some instant games that have ways of displaying winning prize amounts that don't bother you. And thanks for the kind words, we understand why people have an interest, have feedback, and have questions about the way things work - and that's why we do our best to share info that people ask about :-)

8/01/2013 10:23 - NC Lottery

@ TRYN2HIT - The way the NCEL manages the games it offers, including decisions about ending games, always fits industry standards and follows the law. You don't have to take our word for it; as a state agency, the lottery's practices are reviewed and audited on a regular basis.

8/01/2013 10:20 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (BADBOY63) - You do not have to be a resident of North Carolina to play the lottery here, whether draw games or instant games or drawings for Lucke-Rewards or game-specific second-chance drawings or promotional drawings. You just have to be 18. We've had folks on vacation and just passing through or who come across from neighboring states to play who have won prizes. Residents of other places do still have to buy their tickets in North Carolina of course ;-)

8/01/2013 10:07 - steve b.

I don't know if anybody else noticed, but I certainly have!! The overall odds for winning on these scratch-offs and the past latest sets are creeping up and up and up!! For instance:$5 Mega Bucks @ 1 in 3.70- new $5 game 20X The Cash @ 1 in 4.09!!- $10 Cash Spectacular @ 1 in 3.30- new $10 50X The Cash @ 1 in 3.45!!- $2 Money Mania @ 1 in 4.30- new $2 10X The Cash @ a whopping 1 in 4.79!!(highest $2 game odds yet!) For double the money from the new $1 game @ 1 in 4.88; you're only gaining .09 odds difference for a 100% increase!! basically both $1/$2 new games are both about 1 in 5!?!? Please get the odds back to where they were when the lottery first started!! Thank you...

8/01/2013 07:38 - Eileen W.

I have to question how the printing of the scratch off goes - when at one retailer, a player purcases 19 $1 tickets wins $100 each on 3 of those, and several "small" prizes on some others in the batch, but another roll of the same game across town - or even in the same store - has the biggest win of $10, and only a few of those. How are the producers of the scratch offs determining what prizes are on a roll, and if it is computer determined, someone might want to check the programming. it just seems to me that winning tickets are not distributed evenly throughout the ticket rolls. I dunno.

8/01/2013 04:16 - Joerotha L.

would like to c tickets in the stores on mentioned release date, not always there, often told have not gotten them yet

8/01/2013 12:48 - chip o.

hello,i use to think no winners came from the smaller rural western counties.however, this can no longer be considered true as I am from and live in Rutherford County.i live in Rutherfordton and in march 2012 there was a winner with "750,000" jumbo bucks and just a few weeks ago in spindale, nc the $2,500.00 a week for life was won.so,i just hope it can be me one day...hollis m. owens iii

8/01/2013 12:22 - Tim P.

Alot of scratchoff talk going on & know the moderator is gonna disagree with the following statements but he or she or they are WRONG. NC has the worst scratchoff odds of any state in the nearby east coast area, dont believe me? Pull up different screens on your computer leave one on the NCEL's page with all their scratchoff odd's & go to SC, TN, FLA, GA, VA websites & compare dollar for dollar the odds of winning even a breakeven prize. For the user who said something about Kings Mountain needs more winners, they're right! Funny how the only good instance the moderator could come up with is the guy that hit the PB, yes that happened at a store less than a block from my house... almost 5yrs ago...whooop-te-doooo. & Of course he bolted from KM almost immediately, havent heard of him doing anything to better this city with his winnings. & Moderators please dont respond to my comment, i can smell a lie & BS a mile away, so save your energy.

7/31/2013 11:35 - Tiffany S.

what gets me is people spend hundreds of dollars daily on lotto. reliaing on it as a pay check then get mad bc they lose my god people pay your bills take care of your responsibiltes then play lotto for fun. thats what its for not as a pay check. give the lottery a break they didnt hold your hand and make you spend your rent on lottery tickets

7/31/2013 06:37 - thomas s.

looking forward trying something new.

7/31/2013 06:08 - Terry B.

Was thinkin' the same thing myself about how people in one side of the state have a advantage of winnin' over people in the other side. That is until my neighbor Mr E T Bass won a prize from a scratch off ticket. Then I just had to put that thery to rest.

7/31/2013 06:07 - Mark C.

I agree with the others about the X's tickets. Make them mean something when you use that symbol. There shouldn't be a dollar amount on a card less than the cards worth. Not griping because I buy them anyway but merely a suggestion. Also, you never did see if you could find the original odds of the Jumbo Bucks $10 card. I know you guys get a lot of grief from the players but in the end, we all enjoy your games or we wouldn't be here much less buy them. Sometimes we get frustrated and take it out on your guys. You are appreciated.

7/31/2013 05:39 - Anthony R.

Why dont the NC Education Lottery give out all of the remaining prizes(any winning amount) thats left on the instant scratch off cards before ending them,therefore they're falsely advertised. We dont have no way of knowing whats printed out on those cards,thats just a way to get players all excited to play by making it sound good by saying all this monies loaded on these cards but still aint really winning nothing, just give out all of the money then we'll know for sure the money was actually on the instant cards thats claimed to be on them because us players out here are trying to hit, stop playing

7/31/2013 05:34 - ben j.

can a non resident win playing the second chance scratch off games.

7/31/2013 02:30 - NC Lottery

@ GLORY - Many factors go into the decision to end a game, including how long the game has been out, how many top prizes remain, and what new games will be coming out.

7/31/2013 02:27 - NC Lottery

@ IWANT2WIN - We agree with part of what you're saying. Anywhere there are more chances being taken to win, the odds will play out more often there... over time, you'll have a larger volume of both winning & non-winning tickets in proportion with the odds. But that has no effect on the likelihood of a particular ticket winning or not winning a prize, whether it be in a big city or a small town. It has to be that way in order for the lottery to be fair to everyone.

7/31/2013 02:06 - Jermaine s.

Good there is new games; But I live in Elizabeth City N.c & our small town never had a Big Scratch Off winner, & we have at least 30 Lottery Retailers; I buy tickets every day No Luck.... I log on each day to nclottery.com to check da instant winners no luck

7/31/2013 01:53 - Ronald C.

if you play as I do, then you know your chance of winning is as good as anyone's, regardless of where you buy the ticket.

7/31/2013 01:09 - Katrina P.

LUCKE-ZONE: I've been told that there is no way of knowing where winning scratch-off tickets go after they're printed, they just get shipped out to various locations across the state, and if you're lucky enough, you just happen to get that big winner at whatever store it ends up at. The way I look at it, bigger cities have more people= more people purchasing more tickets= increased chance of winning in that city. Basically, you've got play to win- the more you play, the better your chances of finding that big ticket (no matter where you buy it)!

7/31/2013 12:53 - Hilda H.

please try to come up with a $2,000,000 or $5,000,000 scratch off ticket and even a $10,000,000 ticket ,this would be great and generate revenue

7/31/2013 12:53 - Victoria L.

It's been my experience that there have been winners all across North Carolina...not in any one area in particular. The real problem for me is that it wasn't me...lol!!! I agree with the guy who complained about getting a 50x only to win a $1 (total win $50). To me, if I am lucky enough to get a 5x, 10x, 20x or 50x...it should be for a pretty significant amount. Otherwise...just give me a win # or a win symbol. At least I won't be so disappointed when I see that 5x $1 on a $5 ticket

7/31/2013 12:12 - sarah j.

Why are some scratch offs taken out when there's still great prize amounts still left? I don't understand this.

7/31/2013 10:54 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (NATM) - A set of Carolina Cash 5 #'s have the same odds of winning a prize no matter where you get your ticket. We hear some variation on the question you're asking every day. People in the west say winners are all in the east. People in the east say winners are all in the west. People in cities say small towns win big prizes. People in small towns say cities win big prizes. What does all of this tell you? It takes a lot of luck to win no matter where you live or play. Here's a link you can copy & paste for more info about winners in your area: http://bit.ly/14CTg9P

7/31/2013 10:51 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (BLUEBUNNY) - It is true that stores rotate in new ticket inventory at different speeds... if you can't find tickets for new games at specific stores in your specific area, please feel free to call our player customer service number toll-free so that we have that information in our system: 877-962-7529

7/31/2013 10:47 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (JINSCOE64) - You are not the first player to mention that they are not in favor of having the prizes work that way on tickets where you can multiply your winnings. Our hope is that we do offer one or more games that do offer play features you like. As for the question of break-even prizes... it's not up for debate. Have you ever won a free game playing pinball? That's what a break-even prize is: You've won another chance to win at no additional cost to you. Good luck!!

7/31/2013 10:45 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (PORTERPEAY) - Good luck on the new games! We've had lots of lucky winners in the Charlotte area, because many people take a chance to win in the area. Here is a link you can copy & paste for more info: http://bit.ly/17idQOA

7/31/2013 10:41 - NC Lottery

@ WINNER - We love your screenname! If you would please give our player customer service number a call toll-free, and explain to them exactly what your experience was like, that could help us identify stores that may need more info from the lottery. Thanks! 877-962-7529

7/31/2013 10:40 - NC Lottery

@ HANNIBAL - As time goes on, the lottery hopes to introduce more features and equipment that makes everything about the lottery more convenient and more secure. Thanks for your suggestions; glad you enjoy playing; and good luck!

7/31/2013 10:38 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (JROG1206) - To answer your question about how lottery revenue is distributed, everything about our budget including salaries is public information. Here are some specifics: For every $1 spent on a lottery ticket, the largest amount - about 60% - is paid back to players in the form of prizes. Last year, the lottery returned about 29% of revenue to help pay for teachers' salaries, local school construction, prekindergarten for at-risk four-year-olds, and need-based college scholarships & financial aid. 7% is paid to retailers for selling tickets. The remaining 4% is what it costs to make everything happen: Cost of tickets, the statewide computer network that connects more than 6,800 retailers, advertising (less than 1%), and operational costs.

7/31/2013 10:38 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (JROG1206) - We're glad you asked this question. The big picture answer is that lottery funding to the state for education has increased every year since the lottery began in 2006, totaling more than $2.9 billion through June 30. But, since 2006, there have been big changes to the economy and the state budget that are far beyond the role that lottery funds play in supporting specific education programs. The state spends many BILLIONS of dollars on education each year; the $461.3 million we transferred to the state for FY13 (7/1/12-6/30/13) is equal to about 5% of what the state spends on education in a year. In other words, the only way lottery funds could equal what the state spends on education annually is if lottery ticket sales went up about 2000%.

7/31/2013 10:31 - steven b.

I know you have machines for Scratchers , But have you thought about installing machines that let you actually PURCHASE tickets as well? Not just Quick picks.Our friends to the North have them in some locations. Not only does it make it easier to buy your tickets, it also cuts down on standing in lines for some of us, AND when you run into that "occasional" cashier who complains about the lottery in general, you have the option to ignore them, which I do with regularity. My take is that if you don't LIKE it, please take it out of your store. When your profits drop because people trade elsewhere while buying, complain about that. Just a bug or two for your ear. i like the lottery. And we don't have to take that trek "across the line" anymore. I say....."Stay at Home...PLAY at Home". (Already copywritten, lol).

7/31/2013 10:30 - James R.

Thanks for the 'wishing us luck', Lucke Zone, I sure do need it, lol. & btw,(since I'm already off subject), can you guys come to Durham & show ALL of these stores around me how to scan the new tickets? (front & back pair) At a BP & Texaco near me, I've been in there 2 days in a row trying to get my tickets scanned & there's ALWAYS an error. I feel like I could have possibly mixed my winnings, lol (but seriously), they need a lot of work. Anywho, thanks for the second chances of winning & congrats to us ALL!

7/31/2013 10:30 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (LOVEU2LIFE) - Your suggestion comes up from time to time. We recognize some players would rather play for many smaller prizes instead of a few very large top prizes. That's one reason we put out the "HIT $500!" scratch-off game. But generally speaking, across the country and across the state, players tend to want the chance to win a bigger prize if they are playing a scratch-off ticket that costs more than $1 or $2.

7/31/2013 10:28 - NC Lottery

@ ROGER - Perfect timing for your question. Scroll up and look at the question that Lucke-Zone member"TWY101" asked yesterday: It is the exact same question you asked, with the geography reversed. It's all luck. In fact, the second-largest lottery winner in North Carolina history is from Kings Mountain: Jeff Wilson won an $88.1 million Powerball jackpot. Here is a link you can copy & paste for more info on winners in your area: http://bit.ly/13mLTYk

7/31/2013 10:25 - NC Lottery

@ TINK - At this time, we don't have a date for a new Crossword game. But hopefully there will be some extended play games on sale that you enjoy :-)

7/31/2013 10:25 - roger l.

HOPE TO SEE SOME WINNERS IN KINGS MTN NC. ALL THE BIG WINNERS POP UP AROUND THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE..???

7/31/2013 07:44 - Roger K.

yea!! looks like a nice set of games to play! Hope to win one of them!

7/31/2013 07:12 - walter b.

ECU graduate has great ideas....spelling needs some attention. Stars and stripes is good..... stars and striped bass is better..... but stars and strippers........ guaranteed sellout.

7/31/2013 06:59 - Alice P.

When are you going to put out a new crossword game. Those are my favorite. Thank you!!!!

7/31/2013 06:39 - Susan Gail S.

I love it when new games come out. Now I will have something to look forward to every month!

7/31/2013 03:10 - Paul W.

Instead of having prizes of a few handfulls of top prizes at $1 Million dollars and hundreds of thousands of bottom prizes at $1-$1000 etc, how about scratch-offs with a TON of prizes in the $5000- $25000 range (only)? More people would be very happy winning 'relatively significant' amounts that way.

7/31/2013 12:48 - Stephen H.

I like the games, the exta drawings and especially the Sum it Up feature. You're right, if you win a break even prize then you won. Real gamblers know this. I'm back in just because seems there are more ways to win now.

7/31/2013 12:13 - JACQUELINE M.

I look forward for the new games. Hoping I will get a chance to win big. Good luck to all who plays.

7/30/2013 11:40 - joy r.

wondering, how is it that the budget for teachers is being cut, salaries are stagnet, and the education budget seems to be suffering more now, than it did before the lottery.....wasn't the lottery supposed to help the education here, with all the money it takes in, seems to me there shouldn't be so many problems, probably the money is being diverted for the lotteries big wigs and their salaries, why don't yall post that here, whats the lottery commissioner make a year? and all the other geniuses running the the lottery scheme here in nc

7/30/2013 10:50 - RHONDA G.

Its about time someone win big In raleigh , congradulations. To Person who won the Cash five . Most of winners are in charlotte , ashboro . Or some little town Populations of 2000 . Take care the big cities . Some time more money come from Big cities .

7/30/2013 09:34 - Darnette P.

I love playing new games. I seem to have pretty good luck the first week or two of their release. One downside, I don't see any bigwig wins in the Charlotte area. That sucks.

7/30/2013 08:34 - diane s.

Yea my husband and I crack jokes all the time about winners in that area....we even pick tickets up when we travel to the Raleigh.But at the end of the day it's all about luck. Looking 4ward to holding my big check one day:-)!

7/30/2013 07:47 - James I.

Problem that aggravates me as a player is I typically only play the $10 or $20 tickets.. I am sure there will be prizes on a $10 ticket that says 50X's your money and the prize underneath will be $1 on a $10 ticket.. NOT COOL. There should NEVER be a prize value under the ticket price on the playing field anywhere period. NOTHING on there should be under the actual cost of the ticket just to fool you in to thinking you may actually have won something. Already bad enough in the games we already have when you win on more than one space and you still break even. Breaking Even is not a winning ticket.

7/30/2013 06:00 - deloris s.

when new tickets come out on Tuesday, the stores never have them

7/30/2013 05:47 - Natalie M.

I also have noticed and do agree that it seems that all of the winners seem to always come from the Raleigh, Greensboro, ashville, Rockymt. Areas. I live at oak island, the coast where plenty of people live and flock, especially the retired and I've purchased tons of tickets. Especially the $5 dollar Carolina cash five ticket which has a drawing every night and I've never won anything! I mean not even $50 or $100 dollars! Just makes No sense to me!

7/30/2013 04:12 - NC Lottery

@ JEFFRO389 - The Lucke-Zone isn't currently set up to do that automatically at this time, but we will forward your suggestion. So far, more than 2.6 million entries have been made into the 2nd Hot Summer drawing set for Aug. 7; More than 138,000 entries have been made into the $1M Super Monopoly drawing set for Wednesday; Between 50,000 and 57,000 entries have been made for the game-specific MONOPOLY drawings set for Aug. 7; more than 191,000 entries have been made into the $25,000 Firecracker Cash Drawing; and more than 133,000 entries were made for the $2,500 Winning Wednesdays drawing set for Wednesday... Good luck!

7/30/2013 03:53 - jeff p.

looking forward to playing..Kinda off topic, but is there a way to post the approximate entries in the extra drawings such as the summer cash,monopoly bonus drawings ect.?

7/30/2013 03:52 - christopher s.

that's the whole idea of new games to see what people like. a scratch of is a scratch off. Its GENERIC to pick popular games form other states just like sum it up which is worthless and front pair back pair its the same. The odds would be better to play a dollar exact. WE want NEW GAMES not hand me downs or what you thought worked good for other states. THINK outside the box and LEAD not follow. other ideas FIRST n FLIGHT or a ticket to show support for our TROOPS?VETS STARS and STRIPS or gas for a year. HELLO I have all kinds of new ideas for you.

7/30/2013 03:11 - NC Lottery

@ TWY101 - If you look at a map of the state of North Carolina, you'll see that Raleigh is more or less in the very middle of the state. The majority of state residents do live west of I-95... In fact, about 25% of all North Carolinians live in Guilford, Mecklenburg and Wake counties alone. No lottery player has an advantage or disadvantage when it comes to winning the lottery, its all a matter of luck.

7/30/2013 03:08 - NC Lottery

@ BIGMONEY - Thanks for the suggestions. With gaming, whether its a lottery game or a card game at a casino, beating the odds to win the value of your wager is a win - in the scenario you win a break-even prize, you've had good luck to win, just not enough to profit from your win. Good luck on the new games!

7/30/2013 02:43 - wilbur t.

has anyone notices how all the top prizes are all won in the western part of the state it like Raleigh keeps all the top prizes near them

7/30/2013 02:20 - Marvin D.

Love the new games! But, here's what I would like to see in a new game, NO BREAK EVEN PRIZE, lowest prize would be 2X the ticket price, can be called 2X+ The Prize. ;) No HUGE prize, something like Hit $500, but keep the number of prizes compressed even more than Hit $500. "Winning" a break even prize is NOT winning, just my two cents.

7/30/2013 01:46 - Ronald D.

I do like the way this game and others are introduced in sets. Something for every budget.

7/30/2013 01:44 - marriette b.

hopefully some new winners in gastonia soon

7/30/2013 01:14 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (LUMBNOVA2) - This blog is a preview of the games that will be in stores NEXT TUESDAY!! :-)

7/30/2013 01:14 - NC Lottery

@ SLADEINU - Some of your suggestions are more feasible than others; there are all sorts of considerations that the lottery has to take into account before it pursues licensing agreements. But more generally, state lotteries often introduce game concepts that have been popular in other states, its not just a North Carolina thing. Scratch-off games are more popular than ever in our great state. Thanks again for sharing your ideas.

7/30/2013 12:38 - michael p.

LOOKING FOR THE GAME NOW!!

7/30/2013 12:37 - christopher s.

It seems that the NC lottery cant come up with any new game ideas for it self and are using games from other states. Why don't you have a state wide idea search were North Carolina residents have a chance to get paid for their ideas. I am a ECU graduate I would love to see a ticket with the unc duke ncsu and all other schools on it. Something except other states games. a few more suggestions. Black BEARDS GOLD, CAROLINA BLUES,BEACH BUCKS with all the beaches from NC. IF marketing and promotions need new ideas you have my email address

7/30/2013 11:12 - Pamela W.

Great! Glad to hear of some more new games coming!!!More chances to win !! Good luck to everyone!!

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July 30, 2013 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:01 AM

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