Pick 3 player from Charlotte wins thousands

August 28, 2013 Posted by NC Lottery at 3:29 PM

If you love to play Pick 3, there’s a good chance you have at least one set of numbers that is your favorite. For Darrell Smith of Charlotte, we would guess that the combination 2-2-2 is his. Last Thursday night, those were the winning numbers. And Smith won big.

The day after the drawing, Smith came to the lottery’s Charlotte claim center to cash in 42 winning tickets. Each ticket won $500 for a total of – get this – $21,000 in prize money. But there’s more to his story. He told our staff that he had already cashed in 20 other $500-winning tickets at area retailers.

If you’re adding this all up, that means Smith won $31,000. Players across the state won a total of $1.9 million in the Aug. 22 drawing.

In any afternoon or evening Pick 3 drawing, any of the 1,000 possible number combinations has exactly the same chance of being the winning numbers. The top prize in the game for a $1 wager is $500 for an exact match.

Congratulations, Darrell! And good luck to all our Pick 3 players in the next drawing.

87 COMMENTS

2/21/2014 12:20 - Aretina M.

can you advance play on triples and quads? NC Lottery
Sure!

9/05/2013 03:17 - Ryan K.

@PLAYER (SueHuskins) - Yes, the amount reported includes Sum It Up and Front Pair/Back Pair winnings, as well.

9/04/2013 12:42 - Briana M.

thank you L.Z.for answering my question about the stop play of a particular number.The triple sevens are a favorite of many players. Many months ago I tried for weeks to play them,and was not able to play.The retailers are doing a very good job,when I attempt to play advance play for three or more days,and the amount is well over twenty dollars.before printing the tickets,they will ask,if I know that the tickets will be such, n such.That has saved me money.Thank you retailers.

9/03/2013 02:18 - NC Lottery

@ COOKIE - The Lucke-Zone rules state that a member may win a maximum of one prize PER DRAWING, but there is NO LIMIT on the number of drawings you can enter for a chance to win!! Good luck!!

9/03/2013 09:35 - evangeline c.

if u won any of these prizes a while back can u still play or have a chance to win the same prize package again for instant the new ongoing $500 or any of the prizes again cant wait to play

9/03/2013 08:58 - NC Lottery

@ PIRATE_2015 - As you know, there are many different ways you can play Pick 3, whether it be $.50 or $1 play, SUM IT UP, multidraw, any/combo/exact, etc. So, there is no precise number of tickets that triggers the halt of a number being available to play. For Pick 3, when enough tickets have been sold for a particular number that there would be a $5,000,000 total payout if that number were to hit, that's when the number can no longer be played.

9/03/2013 08:55 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (ERVINCAC) - The top prize on a $1 Pick 3 ticket is $500.

9/03/2013 08:54 - NC Lottery

@ BROROBB - If you've been reading the blog for a while, you may have seen other players ask the same question. We share the winners' names ASAP, but we can only do it after a player has responded to our notification AND has completed the claim process. Prizes of $600-$99,999 must be claimed in person at one of our regional claims centers, or by mail.

9/03/2013 08:52 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (REGINABAYLOR) - We're glad to hear your family member had such amazing good luck! The odds of any particular four-digit # being the winning combination in a Pick 4 drawing are always 1 in 10,000, no matter what numbers you play.

9/03/2013 12:38 - REGINA B.

A family member plays only one four digit number for 6 months stating he is hoping that the drawing machine WILL recognized the repeated number. He won 40k. I personally witnessed the tickets.

9/02/2013 11:02 - Duncan R.

Why hasn't the Wednesday drawing for last weeks winner been posted?

9/02/2013 09:15 - robert l c.

the person that won the pick-3 number (222)that won $31,000.00 at $500.00 dollar a ticket,then he would have won $37,138.00 at $599.00 a ticket? so which is the right one $500.00 or $599.00? ervincac player! thank you.

9/02/2013 11:29 - Briana M.

I would like to know,how many tickets have to be sold in a day for the lottery to stop sales of that number?

8/30/2013 04:23 - Colleen H.

I have a question along the same line as player. The total number of winners for today's pick 4 was 185, I just want to double check that it also includes all sum it up and front and back winners as well?? Also I can't see to well typing on this phone and did not mean "littler" time to look at SC pick 3 in an earlier post It drives me crazy to post typos. Don't even know if that's a word. ;-) sh

8/30/2013 02:40 - NC Lottery

@PLAYER If you are asking if we have a breakdown of how many tickets were played exact, 50/50, combo, etc., yes we do. If you have a particular drawing you want that information for, please let us know. In terms of posting that info with other information on each and every drawing, we would have to weigh how much interest among players there is in that much information.

8/30/2013 02:15 - john f.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT !! CONGRATS ON YOUR BIG WIN AND MAY U WIN MANY MORE!!!

8/30/2013 02:14 - LAVERNE B.

congrats

8/30/2013 01:57 - Colleen H.

PS: I had a littler more time and looked at SC again and low and behold they had 018, 810 & 081 also in August. (same #'s as VA, not same sequence but same #'s) I did not spend anymore time searching other numbers but they are probably there. Random YES!

8/30/2013 11:41 - PATRICIA H.

Congratulations Darryl.....reading a story like this restores my faith in winning big in the NCEL(very soon!)and relishing in such a wonderful feeling!

8/30/2013 11:25 - NC Lottery

@gorams15 Just so you and everyone knows, NCEL drawings are open to the public. So if you would like to witness a drawing, just call our Security helpline at 888 732-6235 and a viewing can be arranged.

8/30/2013 11:14 - Ryan K.

@ian828parker - Yes, that's correct.

8/30/2013 10:57 - Colleen H.

Just looked at Virginia pick 3 for August and 081, 108 and 801 was drawn 3 times. Kind of proves that the drawings ARE random!! Also looked at South Carolina last night and they also had duplicates in July. I would wonder if this didn't happen. Random is random, it can happen 5 days in a row!!

8/30/2013 10:49 - stephane d.

this is directed to the person monitoring the site. on the pick four winning numbers you indicate how many tickets had the number but you do no indicate whether the tickets are straight or boxed. Is that information not available?

8/30/2013 05:08 - Timothy P.

So the odds are 1 in 1000 every single drawing no matter what combination of numbers you pick?

8/30/2013 02:05 - merilyn w.

IM just ready for a good hit or even some luck in the second chance drawings!!!

8/30/2013 01:39 - Rhonda S.

congratulation can't wait till I hit it big keep tring get them double but keep missing.

8/30/2013 12:55 - Tammy C.

You were god blessed.. I've been trying so hard for my family with lottery and, the clearing house everyday and nothing yet..and everything is falling apart around me but I can't give up for my son.. I am very happy for you and your loved ones..use it wisely

8/29/2013 10:15 - Derrick B.

Congrats to you Darrell. Great minds think alike. I've actually played this way several times and got lucky myself from playing 40 times on pick 3 back in June. The number was 568 and the same number came back out in July which I thought was rare but there goes that 1 in 1000.Its's an awesome feeling. I did go to different stores to collect so no forms to fill out for tax purposes. Good Luck to all!

8/29/2013 09:58 - Tisan L.

Congrats! enjoy your blessing!

8/29/2013 08:27 - clifton o.

boy can u dig that === good deal

8/29/2013 05:52 - William G.

Same with 711 and 411

8/29/2013 05:14 - Kelly P.

Hit 'em fast and hard!!!! That's the way to do it. Congrats

8/29/2013 04:30 - Reneta M.

I agree with you Marlin, but it will do no good to say anything about the repeats. Give me a quick pick that has never played and drop something else. Please give me a break, I watch other states too and NC is still the worst at it. I hate to hear about the odds, its the only solution you get when it comes to drawings.

8/29/2013 02:15 - michael c.

If I had all those winning tickets. I'd go to various grocery stores and cash a single tix at a time over several months to avoid paying taxes.

8/29/2013 02:09 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (KASHIS2013) + @ MARLIN - The odds of any one particular Pick 3 # are always 1 in 1000 in any drawing, in North Carolina or anywhere else on planet earth. No matter what combination has or has not been drawn recently. If A-B-C comes out this afternoon, there's still a 1 in 1000 chance of it coming out tonight. Good luck to you!

8/29/2013 01:58 - marlin h.

ONLY IN NC A NUMBERS REPEATS 3 TIMES IN 1 MONTH. THIS DON'T HAPPEN IN OTHER STATES. I UNDERSTAND THE LOTTERY PROVIDES FUNDS FOR EDUCATION. THIS IS THE REASON WHY I PLAY HERE RATHER THAN VA. BUT NC NEED TO DO BETTER ON FEW REPEATS.

8/29/2013 01:53 - vanassa b.

I think the NC lottery is full of it how 800 and 510 come out 3 times in one month I'm about to start going to VA!! How about everyone protest the NC lottery and don't play for a week

8/29/2013 01:43 - NC Lottery

@ SANDY - Yes, the weekly & monthly Lucke-Rewards drawings are ongoing. Whether or not you have the chance to win cash or prizes will vary from time to time... so stay tuned!

8/29/2013 01:41 - NC Lottery

@ MARLIN - The results of lottery drawings are completely random. Every player who has a ticket for a drawing must have the same chance of that combination of numbers being the winning numbers.

8/29/2013 01:23 - marlin h.

congrats. I'm glad someone hit the 222 really big. Watch out for 000 they came to VA first then in GA. NC should be next if the lottery commission let it happen.

8/29/2013 01:15 - Monte W.

What does the state have to do with how many tickets an individual buys??? There could be people from other states passing thru who do this and many here could do this, but their number never hit like it did for Darrell. To be honest Deep1, your comment does not compute!

8/29/2013 01:10 - Monte W.

chris 28411,, that was my thinking, since he turned them in and he was apparently paid a lump sum,, he's going to be required to pay taxes whether he files them on his return or not.. Think I'd be happy to go to several stores over several days to collect.

8/29/2013 12:20 - Sandra H.

are there gona be more drawings for the wednesday 2,500 game just wondering

8/29/2013 12:02 - Michael R.

Well Lucke-Zone, for the most part on the Pick 4, if you're paying out around $20,000 among a state with a population of 9 million people, then chances are, the winners wont have multiple tickets on it. Now and then one may get lucky and have 2 bucks exact on it, but anything more, is highly unlikely. Even if a Quad falls, chances are more players will only have one to three tickets on it. Quads are rare though.

8/29/2013 12:01 - magdalene h.

Congrats I'm next!!!!

8/29/2013 10:37 - NC Lottery

@ DEEP1 - Honest question: How could you know how often Pick 3 & Pick 4 players across North Carolina win on multiple tickets or not?

8/29/2013 10:33 - Michael R.

Surprised to see this in NC. They rarely have players with multiple tickets like this to win on their pick 3 and pick 4, unlike Virginia , where I've seen it happen a few times. Ive seen a player have $100 on a pick 3 and like 40 bucks on a pick 4 and it hit.

8/29/2013 09:37 - NC Lottery

@ MAMACATZ - The odds vary depending on the drawing. For the $2,500 Winning Wednesday draw that was held yesterday, more than 362,000 entries were made. For the Hot Summer 2nd Chance drawing coming up on Sept. 11, more than 2.7 million entries have been made. Good luck!

8/29/2013 09:35 - NC Lottery

@ COOKIE - For technical issues, please click on the "HELP" link at the very top right-hand corner of the Lucke-Zone, and look for the telephone and e-mail contact options.

8/29/2013 09:34 - NC Lottery

@ LESH @ CHRIS28411 - For lottery prizes up to $599 on an individual ticket, it is up to the winner to claim the lottery winnings on his or her taxes.

8/29/2013 09:27 - stephane d.

How in the world did you know they were coming?

8/29/2013 08:57 - leslie c.

Congratulation what a way to go!!!!! WOW do play that way everyday??

8/29/2013 08:53 - Patricia C.

Much success, and pass on the luck as well.

8/29/2013 08:42 - Stephanie L.

Now that's what's up! Way to go Darrell! whoo...hoo...

8/29/2013 01:24 - LUTHER J.

congratulations to you my Brother, Give all thanks to the man who laid out that plan. It was meant for you. Do the right things.

8/28/2013 11:45 - Jamar B.

ENJOY BELOVED;)!!!

8/28/2013 11:08 - josh p.

quit while way ahead....good luck man

8/28/2013 10:33 - jessie g.

congrats to u on ur winnings.hope we get to c u reall soon lol!!

8/28/2013 10:08 - John M.

Congratulations to Darrell, he is the MAN

8/28/2013 10:06 - Aleshia M.

Congratulations!!!! How did you know that was coming? I hope they didn’t tax your money since you went to a lottery office.

8/28/2013 09:51 - Gloria I.

Wow! Happy for you!

8/28/2013 09:45 - Joseph S.

A "quad" should be next in Pick 4.. Hope it's 7-7-7-7

8/28/2013 09:39 - adrian n.

I will be glad when I can hold up a big check CONGRATS

8/28/2013 09:24 - Danyelle J.

congrats!

8/28/2013 08:44 - evangeline c.

why am i locked out after 3 tries cant read number/code clearly are ther gonna be anymore drawings i see there arent any more games left to play now im locked out

8/28/2013 08:37 - Chris S.

Great for him. I am happy for him, what an investment! But this brings up something I have thought of before. If each ticket was worth $500, if he cashed them in seperately he wouldn't have to pay taxes on it. But since he brought in a pile of them totaling $21,000, did he have to pay tax on that total?

8/28/2013 08:19 - Dock D.

congrad's to you maybe i will get lucky on the pick 4

8/28/2013 08:02 - patricia B.

wow i know he was happy don't forget to pay titheand offerings.

8/28/2013 07:57 - NC Lottery

@ DOUBLED - That's so cool, thanks for stopping by to comment! Pass on our congratulations to Darrell!!

8/28/2013 07:18 - Ronald C.

The 2nd chance drawings are randomly chosen. The odds are over a million to one, or are they higher?

8/28/2013 06:55 - Shannon B.

Congrulations darrel I hope u pay ur tites wit The Lord n help someone less fortune

8/28/2013 06:43 - Darrell S.

I know him personally, yes it was amazing I won $1000 played 222 twice. But when he called and told me what he played, I was in shock!!

8/28/2013 06:25 - charles d.

congrats mr. smith way to go

8/28/2013 06:03 - William C.

Congratulation Darrell, you deserve every penny that you won cause u spent your money getting the big bucks. Hope you win plenty more!!!!!!!!

8/28/2013 05:39 - Alicia C.

Congrats...my Friend play everyday like that I hope He hits...

8/28/2013 05:15 - mary s.

Mr Smith, hi there,can you spare a thousand or two....?

8/28/2013 04:54 - Jose T.

How do I do it

8/28/2013 04:44 - dianna p.

pay your tithes .10 good luck next time.......

8/28/2013 04:37 - harriet c.

yu go Mr Smith

8/28/2013 04:30 - Tyrick P.

what r u playing for tha month of september lol seriously

8/28/2013 04:25 - Tula B.

That is awesome!!! Ofcousre I wish it was me... Enjoy!!!1````````````````````````````

8/28/2013 04:24 - gloria c.

congratulatons on the winnings...

8/28/2013 04:22 - Roger K.

Congratulations Mr Smith!! I would like to know is how in the world did you know that the 222 was going to come out that day to spend that much money! If you have been playing the numbers for a long time can add up! 62.00 dollars for a lucky draw, ain't to bad! 31,000 dollars, WOW!!

8/28/2013 04:16 - Harry T.

congratulations

8/28/2013 04:10 - Godner B.

*Good Money* Darrell! I will have to snag this technique from you boss!

8/28/2013 04:09 - Cynthia U.

Awesome! :) Congratulations. I missed them. :( That was my dead father's pet number too.

8/28/2013 03:50 - marriette b.

happy for you

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Pick 3 player from Charlotte wins thousands

August 28, 2013 Posted by NC Lottery at 3:29 PM