Big jackpots, big tickets and big prizes

August 9, 2013 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:51 PM

Two multi-million dollar instant scratch-off prizes, the third largest jackpot in Powerball history, a $1 million second-chance prize, a big Carolina Pick 3 drawing and a $672,830 Cash 5 jackpot all added up to more than $30.5 million in prizes paid out to players in North Carolina this week.

The luckiest player of the week award would have to go to Dan Royal, a carpenter from Forest City. After winning $750,000 playing Jumbo Bucks 18 months ago, he returned this week to win the top prize in the $5,000 a Week for Life! game. Before taxes, he received a guaranteed prize of $5.2 million.

No one has a better fishing story than Will Critzer of Sims. He thought he was lucky Monday when he caught five bass before work, but the biggest catch of the day turned out to be a $4 million lottery win in the $4,000,000 Gold Bullion game.

Thursday's big Carolina Cash 5 jackpot brought two $336,415 winning tickets. The first winner came in on Friday morning. Rockingham County's Phillip Hagerman said he plans to pay off mortgage with his prize money.

The MONOPOLY suite of games was good luck for two players this week. First, Clarence Dowless of Holly Springs plans to use the $1 million prize he won in the MONOPOLY Super Entry second chance drawing to start his own car restoration business. Dowless will receive an annuity payment of $50,000 for the next 20 years. He received his first payment, worth $34,006 after state and federal taxes, on Monday.

David Redding Sr. of Midway Park is the most recent player to win the $100,000 top prize playing the lottery's $5 MONOPOLY scratch-off game.

Triple digits paid off in a big way for Carolina Pick 3 players in the Wednesday, Aug. 7 evening drawing. The 6-6-6 combination resulted in a prize payout of more than $1.3 million. It was the fourth time since the game’s inception that the 6-6-6 combination came up in a Pick 3 drawing.

This week's instant scratch-off winners:
Elizabeth Cox of Parkton won $50,000 playing Junior Big Ol’ Bucks.
Jimmie Miller of Shannon, Georgia won $50,000 playing Junior Big Ol’ Bucks.
Eddie Jacobs of Red Springs won $10,000 playing Diamond 7’s.
Cadey Martinez of Charlotte won $10,000 playing $5,000 a Week for Life!
Aileen Patterson of Morganton won $10,000 playing 20X The Cash.
Grady Sanders of Shelby won $10,000 playing 10X The Payout.
Lavern Sharpe of Kings Mountain won $10,000 playing $2,500 a Week for Life!

That's all for this week. We hope that everyone has a safe and lucky weekend.

64 COMMENTS

8/20/2013 11:04 - Ahmad D.

I hope one day to join Lucke-Rewards winner list.

8/20/2013 10:22 - NC Lottery

@SUSAN @JBSTAR @EVERYONE - If you have issues or questions about being locked out or account access, please call technical customer service at: 1-800-201-0108

8/16/2013 04:17 - Susan M.

Dear Player who was locked out for 24 hours. I was locked out what could have been forever because of my errors. Even when I am careful I still make mistakes, and after a year of putting in about 30 tickets a day for365 days times a minimum of 24 numbers per ticket, that is a goo 262,800 or so numbers. No wonder my eyes are playing tricks on me and I am needing new glasses! In case you do not know like I did not know, the limit has been 500 errors total but I am hoping that will change with the increase in tickets per day allowed.

8/16/2013 12:43 - Starla J.

Approx. about 1 year or so, maybe longer...I enrolled to the site, but for the life of me couldn't remember my log-in, so I enrolled again. Please help me fix this so I won't get penalized or terminated.

8/16/2013 09:35 - Roger K.

Dan Royal bought both of his lucky tickets at the same store! Wonder how many more lucky winning tickets are in that store? How lucky can you get! The same store! WOW!! Congrats to you Mr Royal! Spend it wisely. Lynette Brice, congrats to you too on your cash5 win! That's my morning routine is to visit the lottery’s website and check to see if I had won anything in the drawing the night before. Last night I was 3 numbers away from the 50,000 dollars win! Just my luck!Congrats to you Mr Major McLean on your cash 5 win also. I'm just waiting for the day I either win a PB, MM or cash5 drawing! What a day that will be, I'd be so Happy I'd probably crap in my pants!!! lol.. Good Luck everyone! U got 2 b in it 2 win it!!!

8/15/2013 10:14 - Roberta M.

I just got locked out for trying to figure out one number that was "scratched" and unreadable...now i have to wait 24 hours. I didn't realize this would happen...I was just trying to get the undreadable number to work with the others. Sadness.

8/15/2013 10:04 - Edith R.

Thank you NC Education Lottery! My mom won $1,000 on a scratch off card, and while we were in Raleigh to cash it in, she took me shopping and bought me the wedding dress I wanted! My fiance will be deploying to Afghanistan in the spring, and thanks to the lottery I will be dressed in the dress of my dreams for our wedding!

8/15/2013 10:02 - Betty K.

Thank you NCEL for allowing more tickets to be enter.75 tickets is much better then 30 .I have a busy life.Somedays I can't enter all my tickets. Thank you so much.

8/15/2013 04:25 - NC Lottery

@ DESIRECYN - On Oct. 1, 2012: http://bit.ly/13DmhmN

8/15/2013 12:12 - cynthia b.

When did lucke rewards start?

8/15/2013 09:13 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (CROSSB1) - If it has happened since the Lucke-Rewards drawings began, that's where you'd find it.

8/15/2013 08:48 - beverly c.

I went on the page for the winners in Burlington and Graham.I didn't see any winners for the Luke-Rewards.Has there been any?

8/15/2013 08:12 - NC Lottery

@ EARL2212 - Random luck can come to anybody at any time. The odds of ANYBODY winning the Powerball jackpot are incredibly long. Whatever your reason for deciding to play or not to play, we wish you the best.

8/14/2013 10:55 - yvonne g.

IM BOUT 2 GIVE UP AS WELL NEVER SEE MORE THAN TWO OR THREE DOLLARS IN BOUT THREE YEARS SAD

8/14/2013 07:29 - m. earl b.

that's it count me out on the scratch off's. one man two big jackpots's in the same year. i staying with the cash 5's it's cheaper.have you heard that one of the winners in nj(powerball) father wrote the law(or something) for the lottery. now what are the odds for that!! open your eyes people.open your eyes. if you can't afford to play don't. because these officails already know who's going to win.

8/14/2013 05:41 - michael b.

this guy here lives in my town im so glad to see him when it wtg Dan Royal, from Forest City :)

8/14/2013 03:17 - beverly c.

Okay Thanks!

8/14/2013 02:30 - beverly c.

Okay Thanks!

8/14/2013 02:04 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (CROSSB1) - You can search through each drawing's winners to see if there have been any from Graham or Burlington. We've certainly had lottery winners from that area! http://bit.ly/16bNLTS

8/14/2013 12:39 - beverly c.

Where can I find the Graham or Burlington second chance winners?? I have never seen in winners on the website.

8/14/2013 11:25 - Godner B.

Thanks for the insight LUCKE-ZONE! This definitely helps me in my quest for gold.

8/13/2013 03:56 - NC Lottery

@ GOODMONEYG - The top prizes are distributed at random, and stores reorder tickets as they sell through them. It's all a matter of pure luck! Dan Royal is one of the luckiest winners we've ever met!

8/13/2013 03:38 - Godner B.

Honestly, I love the draw games more than scratch offs; It's like pinning the tail on the donkey. Let's say a scratch off has 5 top prize scratch off tickets, Can we assume that all of the top prizes have been individually distributed evenly across NC? It's possible that a certain region may have two or more top prizes sitting at stores. Take Dan Royal's story - He was able to win the Forrest City area, Twice! Although the wins were 18 months apart, Lightening striked twice in the same area! I am interested in, How are the tickets distributed (Primarly/Mainly the top prizes) & What process is in place to distribute the tickets ?

8/13/2013 03:27 - NC Lottery

@ MISS SAVVY - It's all random luck. What city & county do you live in?

8/13/2013 03:06 - Rebecca M.

I just love the thrill of having the possibility of a win. I get excited scratching.... I'm not much into the numbers game though. My husband plays the drawings. People in my area win, I'm probably addicted because I feel like I shouldn't give up. Who knows, it could be me next!!

8/13/2013 12:53 - Chary C.

May God bless all who won. Use your money wisley, and help others less fortunate.I'm looking forward to the days I win, I want to pay off all of our debts, and help other to stay in their home if they are facing forclosure.

8/13/2013 10:55 - Shelia A.

It seems no one from our area(southeast coast of NC) ever wins the BIG money. Maybe you should redistribute some of the scratch offs? Just saying.....

8/13/2013 08:57 - NC Lottery

@ JEAN - Your particular suggestion isn't in the works, but stay tuned to the Lucke-Zone for updates about new convenience features :-)

8/12/2013 10:27 - Betty R.

how about offering a bar code reader for home computer use so we can scan our tickets to automatically enter them in the second chance drawing. that would make entering a lot easier. its got to be possible. what do you think ?

8/12/2013 09:21 - sarah j.

I'm thankful that I break even a lot of times, it's better than losing it all. It's a fun game. Some of these people that win are probably thinking just like some of us, I'll never win to amount to anything, but they did. So, play sensibly and be patient. It will be your turn someday.

8/12/2013 09:19 - NC Lottery

@ PUNGOCREEKER - It does look like you live in a pretty quiet place! Like you say, playing the lottery for a chance to win can be fun, and we wish everyone luck, but when it comes down to it, being happy is what matters most! Here is a link you can copy & paste for more info: http://bit.ly/16H7t8N

8/12/2013 09:15 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (REDCHEVY) - There are more than 9 million people in North Carolina... there are about 6,000 people in Hillsborough. Of those who are 18 years or older, nobody has an advantage or disadvantage compared to anyone else who walks into a store and tries their luck. It's random chance. Good luck to you!

8/12/2013 08:51 - Jeffrey C.

I play, I spend, but i cannot win!

8/12/2013 07:02 - chris w.

Nice real nice

8/12/2013 05:17 - Bridgette M.

Thanks NCEL for your response. I had rather live in a not so crowded, quiet coastal community in NC. Maybe the lottery will hit here sometime - if not, still happy. Also, reading the blog above - could you show me the past winners in Belhaven, NC. Thanks.

8/12/2013 05:16 - george w.

I know A lot of people have hit A $1000.00,and the pick 3 & 4, and part of the cash 5. I am talking about the Top pay outs on some of these tickets. There are alot of tickets sold in Hillsborough.

8/12/2013 05:14 - shaking c.

I wish i could winn

8/12/2013 04:25 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (REDCHEVY) - OK, glad you saw our reply this time. There are more than 6,800 stores across the state and many more players taking a chance to win each day. It's all a matter of random luck who will win a prize. Here are 11 Google page search results about winners from your area. You can copy & paste into your browser: http://bit.ly/17kftgd

8/12/2013 04:20 - hudson s.

i agree with (redchevy)not from Hillsborough but I do agree...im sure were not the only ones who spend countless dollars and never see big winners from our areas..

8/12/2013 03:50 - george w.

No have not seen your reply.

8/12/2013 03:24 - Clarence H.

Remember it's a game and its gambling so the odds are already against you so play responsible and have fun and if you don't win remember you made a donation to the educational fund.

8/12/2013 02:09 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (REDCHEVY) - We've been posting and replying to your comments about winners in the Hillsborough area for months. Have you ever seen our reply?

8/12/2013 02:05 - NC Lottery

@ GCTHARIN - The Lucke-Zone is not set up to display that information for the Lucke-Rewards drawings but we'll forward your suggestion.

8/12/2013 02:05 - NC Lottery

@ PUNGOCREEKER - It's not possible to create separate games that are only sold in one region of the state, for both legal and practical reasons. Tickets are distributed to retailers as they're needed. If you study the census of North Carolina, you'll find there are very few people in some parts of the state and many more in others. Good luck to you!

8/12/2013 10:47 - Carissa R.

So happy for all the winners. Just waiting on my moment!!!!

8/12/2013 04:00 - Cheryl D.

I enjoy playing but haven't had any luck as I'd yet. I am always one away from winning but One day I hope it will be my turn to share the luck.Good lyck to all the players and congrats to all the winners.

8/11/2013 08:52 - Beverly Kelly J.

I have won a$100.00 on monopoly $5 card.

8/11/2013 01:16 - Bridgette M.

I think the answer to the argument between "Everyone wins in the eastern part of the state" and "Everyone wins in the western part of the state" should be: Tickets should be printed just for stores in the eastern part of the state and tickets for the western part of the state. This is a good, fair way to do this. Just a suggestion.

8/11/2013 11:54 - larry w.

money looking good this week for the winners. would love to see some big winners in our part of town. keep on doing it for education. thank u.

8/11/2013 11:27 - Roger K.

Here's a look at the world's 10 highest jackpots and where the winners were from: 1. $656.0 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (3 tickets from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland) 2. $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (1 ticket from Florida) 3. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012 (2 tickets from Arizona and Missouri) 4. $400 million, Powerball, (drawing scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 7; jackpot could grow) 5. $390.0 million, Mega Millions, March 6, 2007 (2 tickets from Georgia and New Jersey) 6. $380.0 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 4, 2011 (2 tickets from Idaho and Washington) 7. $365.0 million, Powerball, Feb. 18, 2006 (1 ticket from Nebraska) 8. $363.0 million, The Big Game, May 9, 2000 (2 tickets from Illinois and Michigan) 9. $340.0 million, Powerball, Oct. 19, 2005 (1 ticket from Oregon) 10. $338.3 million, Powerball, March 23, 2013 (1 ticket from New Jersey) ——— Sources: AP archives and www.powerball.com REMEMBER: U GOT 2 B IN IT 2 WIN IT!!!

8/11/2013 09:05 - liesa m.

I never win anything. I have play since lottery came to NC.

8/11/2013 09:01 - Roger K.

Good Morning lottery players! Was reading on the internet the other day, and this person said the powerball number 13 has not came up since 11-14-2012! So yesterday I played it with my special numbers and won 4.00 dollars on it. Now if I can get the other 5 right! Then I can go ahead and win this game! Good Luck players!!

8/11/2013 04:22 - Sanford M.

What do we do with the Lucke numbers on the lottery tix?

8/10/2013 05:43 - christina c.

I do wish I could win so I can help my 20 year daughter and my 5 month grandchild and my 18 year old!! I would also like to help my mom and siblings as well! Congrats to all you winners!!!

8/10/2013 04:47 - jeff g.

I agree congrats to all winners have not won a big prize ever

8/10/2013 03:46 - kaletah t.

Good Luck to all the winners

8/10/2013 02:43 - Carlene M.

I don't have a lot of luck winning either. Stopped playing for awhile

8/10/2013 10:17 - george w.

I put this on yesterday but you change your sceen.Itis funny how all the big payouts are always somewhere else. You all say that every one has the same chance to win. I have spent over $2000.00 on Jumbow Bucks. The biggest thing I won on them was $50.00. I have listed over $5000.00 on Lucke Rewards for nothing. As many tickets sold in Hillsborough & around someone should have hit something.

8/10/2013 09:05 - Betty K.

How lucky can you get.Winning twice eighteen months apart.Please tell me your secret. The only thing I won this week is eight dollars. Well I am not giving up.It will happen one day. I enjoy playing. Good Luck to everyone...

8/10/2013 12:56 - Jason D.

Has been a pretty good week for players won $100 playing the $50x and the 20x at the same time at the same retailer after buying only two of each. Had a few $50 and $40 wins on other games as well. It's getting pretty exciting again after a two week dry spell.Love playing and hope everyone get's LUCKE!! Keep up the great work NCEL.

8/09/2013 10:56 - nafeesha j.

I cant win nothing tired of entering 1000's of tickets congrats to all winners

8/09/2013 10:21 - Jeanette W.

Wow! That's a lot of money! Congratulations to all the winners!

8/09/2013 06:38 - Roger K.

WoW!! How lucky can u get to win twice! He Just 6 months older than me, wish I was that lucky! Scratch off's I don't play as much anymore! Last time I played a scratch off, I won 250.00 dollars on the HIT 500 ticket, good win for me. Been awhile now since I bought one. But do still play PB and MM. Congrats to all the winners, my turn I hope is a coming!!

8/09/2013 05:54 - michael c.

love this game

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August 9, 2013 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:51 PM

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