Players statewide win more than $21 million in prizes

October 12, 2014 Posted by NC Lottery at 2:52 PM

Football tailgates. Long sleeves after dark. The State Fair around the corner. It must be October in North Carolina. In the midst of all there is to enjoy in fall, the season is off to an even sweeter start for this week’s luckiest lottery winners.

The biggest win goes to Carlos Sanabria, the owner of an auto repair shop in Charlotte. He said that winning the top prize playing the $200,000 Grant game is big for his family. “This feels good,” Sanabria said. “I am very happy. This is going to help me save for whatever comes up down the road.”

Another big winner is a retired nursing assistant from Greensboro. Tansy Johnson said her favorite scratch-off game is Golden 7’s. And it was a ticket for her favorite game that won her $150,000. “My husband and I haven’t taken a vacation in years,” Johnson said. “We were married in Gatlinburg 25 years ago and we can’t wait to go back. This money couldn’t have come at a better time. I feel like I’m dreaming.”

Our third six-figure winner of the week is Tyler Riddle of Hope Mills. Mills, a construction worker, had just got off work when he stopped with some friends to buy a Mega Bucks ticket that turned out to be worth $100,000. “I saw the one, then more zeroes,” Riddle recalled. “I said, ‘There’s no way.’ My friends went crazy.”

An Asheville man came forward to collect his $68,335 share of the Oct. 2 Carolina Cash 5 jackpot. Jack Wright was one of two players whose tickets matched all five numbers in the drawing. The other winner of $68,335 is John Woodies of Chesapeake, Va, who bought his lucky ticket on the coast near the border at the Southland Trade store on Caratoke Highway in Moyock in Currituck County.

Fourteen more players scratched their way to big prizes this week. They are:

Kevin Rytel of Charlotte: $10,000 ($200 Million Blowout)
Elvis Whitfield of Durham: $10,000 (Millionaire 7’s)
David Grays of Fairfield: $10,000 ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
Heng Ung of Fletcher: $10,000 ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
Ricky Rowe of Garner: $10,000 (The “$” Game)
Stephanie Starrette of Gastonia: $20,000 ($1,000,000 Jackpot)
Thomas Butts of Hertford: $10,000 ($10,000 Jackpot)
Thomas Beaver of Hickory: $10,000 (Millionaire 7’s)
Sotirios Kotrotsios of Indian Trail: $10,000 ($120 Million Cash)
Mahesh Desai of Jonesville: $20,000 ($1,000,000 Jackpot)
Brigette Barber of Lexington: $20,000 ($4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular)
Connie Chang of Monroe: $10,000 (Break The Bank)
Tasha Webber of Shelby: $50,000 (Casino Crossword)
Willie Hall of Wadesboro: $10,000 ($120 Million Cash)

Whatever you had going on over the weekend, we hope it was a good one. See you soon here in the Lucke-Zone.

37 COMMENTS

10/19/2014 08:54 - Shanessa S.

My favorite game is $2,500/week for life. Have all those top prizes been claimed? I don't want to keep playing if all the big prizes are gone. NC Lottery
It's a great game and one we always have for sale. Because of that, we have an older version still out there. It is Game #305 and it still has one top prize remaining, as of this morning. The game will be ending soon. The newer version, Game # 398, has two of the top prizes remaining. So be specific about which of the versions you want when buying these tickets. Check out our Instant Scratch-off page on our website. We update info on the prizes remaining in each game daily. Good luck.

10/16/2014 10:40 - Brian P.

surprise surprise i didnt win the bonus bucks cash 5 drawing. it's frustrating to keep entering contests and not win a damn thing. I knew the lottery was a scam but yet I spent plenty of money playing it. nothing but aggravation and lost money. hope the lucky people enjoy my money.

10/16/2014 02:20 - Peter V.

Regarding the Al or Nothing game, it is a joke. I have tracked it since its inception and not only NO top prize winners, the 2nd prize winners have averaged only 3-4 per drawing. And a top prize of $250,000. and the second prize of $500???? Why such a drop from first to second pace? Today's drawing, no one even hit the $500, and only 47 people hit the $50. How many total players were there for this drawing today??? Then you can see the total amount of plays compared to the total amount of winners. Bet I don't ge a straight answer on that one!NC Lottery
Most draw games pay out at about 50%. Over time, All or Nothing will pay out at a higher percentage than that. Just like the players, we are hoping in every drawing to see a top prize winner... and we will, we just don't know when! :-)

10/16/2014 01:40 - james w.

The odds of winning are really off the records for so long! So tell me about the All or Nothing game in which you guys are getting away with this! Even you had 5-6-7, you are a sore losers for how many times since its started. Big profits for you NCEL!NC Lottery
As you already saw in our reply above, All or Nothing is different from a lot of other draw games. The other thing is that we hope to have a variety of games that a variety of people like. If All or Nothing isn't for you, we hope some of our other games have odds and prizes that you like.

10/15/2014 12:05 - NC Lottery

^ ^ ^ Hey there :-) It's not easier to win the lottery west of I-95, its just that most of the 10 million or so North Carolinians live west of where you do. If you were to move west, it wouldn't be easier or harder to win the lottery, you'd just be playing around more people. As for All or Nothing, the game is very popular, and it's only a matter of time until we have a $250,000 winner! Last week alone, All or Nothing players won $338,832 in prizes, including 37 prizes of $500 :-)

10/15/2014 11:20 - shironzo m.

So i guess 2 or 3 big winner tickets should be good for the goldsboro area over all these years???smh, but I see people west of 95 hit for big PRIZES weekly and its always the same places!! Come on now!! If it's all luck like u guys claim big prizes would equally spread around... Not even gonna get into all or nothing, almost 2 months and no top prizes yet awarded!! U guys should pull that game!! Say what u want but no one will win until the computer is programmed to match all 12 numbers that someone has on their ticket.. Let's be real, matching or missing 12 of 24 numbers correctly is IMPOSSIBLE regardless of the odds!! And that is 100 percent facts!!!!

10/15/2014 11:18 - Tim I.

What's the time for 2nd chance drawing?NC Lottery
Lucke-Rewards drawings are only set for a particular date, not a particular time of day; we understand folks are eager to find out if they won. Typically winners are notified by e-mail within 48 hours of the drawing, or by 5pm on Friday. Good luck!

10/15/2014 10:05 - William A.

Where can we find how many tickets are printed? The stated odds are only true if it is a set number of tickets and not additional added to the game. This should be public record! This also has happened to me I bought 14 ten dollar tickets in a row before I won a break even 10 dollar prize on the 15th ticket. Yes it's luck but that is ridiculous and not even close to the stated odds!NC Lottery
The information you're interested in is available to you or anyone else; check out our response above. The stated odds are for the entire game, not a particular roll of tickets; it's entirely possible for there to be many non-winning tickets (or winning tickets) in a row. Playing the lottery is all a matter of luck! Every ticket is a "new game." Good luck to you

10/15/2014 10:02 - NC Lottery

^ ^ ^ To figure out how many tickets were printed for a particular game, multiply the number of prizes at any one level by the odds of winning the prize when the game starts. For example, if a game starts with 4 top prizes and the odds are 1 in 1 million of winning the top prize, there are 4 million total tickets for the game. If the odds of winning at least a break even prize are 1 in 4, that means that 75% of the tickets, or 3 million tickets, for the game are non-winning tickets. That means that 25% of tickets, or 1 million tickets win at least a break-even prize. Prize money comes from the non-winning tickets.

10/14/2014 10:27 - William A.

I would like to know the real odds not the ones on the back of the stated scratch offs. I would like to know the number of printed tickets verse winners it should be public record where can I find this? After reading the comments I agree here lately the scratch off payouts are just not hitting. I know it's luck but when you purchase 10 off a roll and don't win then the stated odds are WRong!

10/14/2014 08:17 - DAVE C.

I was looking back at the old blog posts, and was wondering why dont Lucke Zone do the triple point Mondays or double point Tuesdays,etc any more..... and I second the comment about only having one winner on wednesdays, cant we have more than 1 winner a week, with over 300,000 members?

10/14/2014 04:28 - shironzo m.

Finally i see a fellow goldsboro player besides myself complain..NCEL we aren't stupid.. All of your responses are rehearsed.. Repeat answers!!##boycottNC Lottery
We do our best to respond in a personal way to questions and comments, but we get a lot of the same questions and comments! It's definitely not just folks from Goldsboro. But, we have definitely had some lucky tickets in your area; you can copy & paste this link for more info: http://bit.ly/1w73RcV

10/14/2014 08:33 - zulma g.

I can't believe I bought 10 tickets in a row of the new $$20 game and didn't win anything...We really need more winning tickets in the Goldsboro area please...

10/14/2014 03:01 - james c.

I am due points for taking part in survey.NC Lottery
If you are concerned that you didn't get the points for taking a survey, please click on the HELP link at the top of the Lucke-Zone and fill out the ONLINE SUPPORT form.

10/13/2014 11:49 - Barbara C.

For you that God has anything, way, shape or form of winning a lottery, you are so wrong. God hates gambling and will never help you, no matter what your financial needs are.. So dont even ask him..

10/13/2014 11:20 - Thomas L.

How many winners and when have come from Wilmington ncNC Lottery
A bunch :) You can copy and paste this link for some info about the biggest winners: http://bit.ly/1wzYx1P

10/13/2014 10:33 - FRANCES P.

congrats....to all winners, including the small amount...i did get my money back on cash 5....better than nothing at all....

10/13/2014 08:46 - ida d.

Folks don't feel as though U are alone .The tickets we get here in my hometown also sucks I've been playing since it came to NC and each time winners are always as it was stated earlier (west of 95) Raleigh charlotte Greensboro "Always" Seems like the game winning tickets are being sold in those area only.start giving them the tickets u have for our area n give them our tickets!! stop sending us non-winning tickets .we want to win or at least. Here of winners in our area more than once a year .GIVE US A CHANCE TOO.DONT SEND YOUR REGRETS !!!!! Send winning tickets to this area.soooooooon please.

10/13/2014 08:28 - Ayonna L.

I am a Married Mother of 5 kids 2-16 years old. I have been playing all if the lottery game that i can when i can in hope that just one day I'll be one of the blessed ones out of the blue that would finally be able to get my kids everything they need and everything that they would like to have. People who have won congratulations! Others don't give up or you'll never win. Try to stay positive about it we all want the money or any money for a better life, better lifestyle, to bring forth good doctor care for sooner sick. Stay Blessed Everybody! Keep praying for the best and God will work it out with or without the lottery. Good Luck!

10/13/2014 08:19 - Annie M.

Some people in North Carolina do not understand how gambling really works. It is a game of chance, sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. I have played the lottery since day one and never started to win until a couple of months ago. I am winning small amounts ($50.00, 100.00 and 500.00, etc. ) so consistency seem to work for me, but if you choose to play elswhere you will only win if it is your time to win. PATIENCE!!!!!

10/13/2014 05:28 - kenny h.

Lottery people say where there is more people more tickets are sold ergo more scratch winners. That still doesn't explain why most winning tickets are " sent " to the same area. Get real!!!!NC Lottery
Hey, please see our response to BK above. Lucky tickets aren't deliberately sent anywhere, its all a matter of luck. We promise if you were to move to Charlotte or Greensboro, it wouldn't affect your chances of winning. We've had big winners from places large and small... good luck to you!

10/13/2014 04:57 - Barbara K.

Ok people ,We cannot win the lottery but I bet if we bet on where the winners are going to always be we can win some cash! Fayetteville ,Charlotte,Raleigh,Greensboro,Asheville and surrounding area.We may even luck up and have a stray winner in off location.They tell us winners are in high populated areas so I guess they are telling us to not play as we will always be loosers.Where I live,scratch off are even loosers.NC Lottery
Hey, BK! It's been a while. We are afraid you have misunderstood our responses over the years. It's not easier to win the lottery in a high-population area. It's just a matter of more people taking a chance to win there. Good luck to yoU!

10/13/2014 04:35 - shironzo m.

I agree with the ones thàt never win!!! This lottery is a total sham.. How can u enjoy when u cant win???NC Lottery
Players win more than $2.6 million per day playing the lottery. But that prize money comes from non-winning tickets... that's the way games of chance work! That's why we encourage folks to play for fun, knowing it takes luck to be a winner :-)

10/13/2014 03:57 - james w.

is anyone else getting kicked off for too many wrong entry'sNC Lottery
For you and any other player having an issue with entry errors, please click on the HELP link at the top right-hand corner of the Lucke-Zone and fill out the ONLINE SUPPORT form to explain your issue.

10/13/2014 03:23 - Patricia B.

I always have alot entries and I never win what in the world...I am taking myself off lucke zone I never win same cities all the time.

10/13/2014 01:53 - Lynn Q.

For the players that never win anything, try playing All or Nothing. Its a easy game to play and easy to win, at least your money back. I've been using my winnings to play for free since the game started in September. Be positive and the lottery God might make your dreams come true!

10/13/2014 01:05 - Carlos C.

I feel similar as most of the people here as far as not winning. Jacksonville has a lot of people and I have yet to hear of anyone in Jacksonville winning any second chance prize. Last time my comment was blocked when I was voicing my fruastrations.NC Lottery
Hey there :-) We don't block comments; make sure to check back on the specific blog entry where you leave a comment. As soon as our communication staff can review the comment to make sure it isn't vulgar, we post it, and a response when we can. As for Jacksonville, there actually have been Lucke-Rewards winners there. Check through the WINNERS page ;-)

10/13/2014 11:13 - Ronald C.

We need a texas hold'em game. Odds are more favorable in card games than anything else 'cept football.

10/13/2014 09:28 - Betty K.

I put my ticket numbers in the papa johns pizza second chance drawing yesterday. But I didn't get any entries for the free pizza party drawing. What's up with that. NC Lottery
Sorry to hear you're having trouble with the Papa John's drawing. You may want to call the help line at 1-855-767-1863 to see if they can help sort it out. Thanks for playing the new game!

10/13/2014 07:04 - Mary B.

I havent won yet!

10/12/2014 11:45 - Phyllis H.

I know that my BIG PAYDAY IS ON THE WAY!!! Congrats to all the winners!

10/12/2014 10:59 - gloria c.

My day is coming soon...

10/12/2014 09:28 - Dell W.

Hope I will be a winner soon

10/12/2014 08:27 - lisa p.

I have bought over 65 five dollar tickets over the past several weeks and have not won anything. NC lottery is just taking their money and not letting people win! The store clerks are also in agreement. You have to go to Virginia or South Carolina if you want to win! Stop taking advantage of people and don't tell me youre sorry I'm not having any luck. Everybody I know cant be having bad luck. NC Lottery
We are hearing that you are frustrated. Please understand that,in any state lottery in, you always have a chance to win, but it will always be more likely that you won't win a prize. That's what makes it possible to win much more than you play for; prize money comes from non-winning tickets. If you tell us what county you're in, we'll be glad to share a link to some winners in your area. We know that players like you buy tickets for a chance to win. Whether you decide to play in North Carolina or not, we wish you the best.

10/12/2014 07:37 - Betty K.

What is going on with the papa john tickets. I enter my tickets but didn't get any entries points. Do I have to go to papa johns site to get points. NC Lottery
There was an issue with the ticket entry of the Papa John's game that we're told has been resolved. Please let us know if you have any more difficulties. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you're enjoying the new game.

10/12/2014 06:52 - jerry s.

You must live west of I-95 in order to win a major prize on scratch-offs. Check the winners and see.... NC Lottery
We have winners all over the state, but it's important to remember that where there are higher populations, there are more people playing the lottery. It doesn't mean that one place is luckier than another, just that more tickets are being sold and scratched. We wish you the best of luck and hope to have another big winner in your area soon.

10/12/2014 05:40 - Joyce C.

i have been playing since lottery came to N.C. My bonus points account show that. Seems like I'd win something or be rewarded for being a faithful player.

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Players statewide win more than $21 million in prizes

October 12, 2014 Posted by NC Lottery at 2:52 PM

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