Eight instant games set to end this month

December 4, 2014 Posted by NC Lottery at 9:45 AM

The N.C. Education Lottery is announcing the end of eight instant scratch-off games. The games, listed below, end effective Friday, Dec. 19, 2014.

The games are $2,500 a Week for Life!, $4,000,000 Gold Bullion, Red, White and Blue Cash, 50X The Cash, Ultimate Crossword, $200,000 Grant, Scoop The Cash and 7-11-21.

In accordance with NCEL policy, all instant game prizes must be claimed within ninety (90) days of the announced end-of-game date. Therefore, all prizes associated with the games listed above must be claimed on or before March 19, 2015. Claims of $600 up to $99,999 must be made at one of the six regional claim centers before 5 p.m. that day while claims of $100,000 and above must be made at NCEL headquarters before 5 p.m. on that day as well. Claims that are mailed to the NCEL must be received within 90 days of the official end-of-game date. Postmarks will not satisfy the 90-day requirement.

For more information, players should visit the official NCEL website at www.nc-educationlottery.org, email the NCEL at playerinfo@lotterync.net, or call Customer Services at (877) 962-7529.

Check your tickets carefully and make sure you're not overlooking something. We'd hate to see anyone miss out on a big prize.

28 COMMENTS

12/08/2014 09:44 - m. earl b.

confused!!! are all of the 2,5k for life tickets being pulled or the game number 305 tickets and game number 398 staying. i notice that you only have ending under the 305 tickets.NC Lottery
Great question, Earl. Thanks for the chance to explain this. The "Week for Life" group of games is always in stores. When the decision is made to reprint the game, the old game ends and tickets for the game that is ending are picked up. In future communication about games that are always in stores, we will try to make that clear.

12/07/2014 02:59 - David F.

At what point, or date, is a ticket no longer eligible for 2nd chance entry? I ran into that today situation today when I tried to enter a $10 Monopoly game ticket, it was rejected (not recognized). In particular, how long will I have to enter tickets for a 2nd chance drawing for those games ending December 19th? The deadlines for redeeming "winners" are published, but no information about the 2nd Chance entries. Thanks in advance for your reply.NC Lottery
You have 90 days from the date a game ends to claim prizes or enter for Lucke-Rewards points or a game-specific second-chance drawing (depending on the entry period; please call customer service if you have more questions on this: 877-962-7529

12/06/2014 01:07 - Robert G.

Is there information on the website that tells us dedicated lottery players if a scratch off jackpot has been won? Just curious and good luck to all :) Still trying to hit that jackpot on any scratch off. Even though I buy 10 tickets of the same kind and don't win on any of them I still know my contribution will benefit NCEL. Thank you and waiting to atleast hit that second chance drawing! NC Lottery
Absolutely! You can find the information on prizes remaining for each game on our website at http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/instant.aspx

12/05/2014 05:43 - Kenneth F.

Thanks for the response. Now let's go a step further, why would a game be ended which still has a 4 million and 1 million prize still available? Why not let the large prizes be claimed and then shut it down? It wreaks of the lottery trying to save money on the large payouts. NC Lottery
The reason is still the same, some older games simply don't sell anymore. So the lottery ends the game and comes out with new games with more prizes.

12/05/2014 03:36 - Kenneth F.

Can I get an answer to my previous post? Why does the lottery take away tickets from stores prior to the end date of the games? NC Lottery
There are a few reasons. Some stores sell through all the tickets they have and do not order more. Also, it's important to remember that we have thousands of retailers, all of which are serviced by a regional representative who generally only see each retailer once every couple of weeks. So, as games end, the extra tickets are picked up a bit early sometimes.

12/05/2014 01:09 - jason r.

no winners at all this week.started Sat. around 3 tickets a day.a WHOLE week of losing...good thing i dont play $20 tickets..somebody at nc lottery will have a GREAT Christmas,just not my family NC Lottery
Really wishing you could have some luck so you could change your handle. But most of all, playing the lottery should be for fun and with money you can afford to lose. If you aren't having fun, it is probably time to take a break. Good luck to you in all you do. NC Lottery

12/05/2014 06:51 - Regis R.

I can only afford so much a week to play. So my chances of winning is slim. So I hope to be when I play.I have fun when I play. Good luck to all.

12/05/2014 01:59 - clarence l.

In what capacity does the NCEL help education in this state?? Overcrowded classrooms, etc. I had two family members(Teachers) leave to go teach in another state because they were underpaid here...Maybe the NCEL should be named TIPM (taking innocent peoples money) NC Lottery
We get this question a lot, and the truth is that the lottery only makes up around 4-6% of the total education budget in the state. To see how lottery dollars have helped your county, head to http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/beneficiary.aspx

12/04/2014 09:57 - m. earl b.

2.500wk for life needs to end. i bought from several different locations and the result was the same NO winning tickets. or maybe i would get lucky and break even. is it that you know that there are no winning tickets out there or the right person didn't by it. i know that the winning tick is east of raleigh.HA!HA!HA!

12/04/2014 09:56 - Tristan d.

the money goes to these fat politicians pockets and the big wigs at the lottery it will be only be a matter of time till we all here about some kinda of scandal at the headquarters of the lottery involving money being siphoned off,This is just another way for the poor to stay poor and the rich to stay rich. NC Lottery
This year the lottery is devoting 62 percent of its revenues to prizes. It's by far the biggest expense. Next is the amount we raise for education - 26 percent. Administrative expenses are the smallest category at 4.5 percent. All our financial affairs are audited annually by independent auditors. So far, in each of the eight years, the lottery has received clean audits.

12/04/2014 09:24 - Chati C.

Why does ALL the WINNING be in the WESTERN part of the state...Plymouth, Roper, Creswell buy as many tickets as any other part of the state and NEVER a winner...HMMMMMMMMM!!!! As for the reward drawings I have lots of entries in, but NEVER when once again he WESTERN part of the state is WINNING!!! HMMMMMM!!!! NC Lottery
Our winners come from all across the state. Perhaps you are not seeing them all. As for big winners, we post news about them on the news section of the Education Lottery's website, http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/news_article-list.aspx. Check it out. You'll see winners from Robersonville, Elizabeth City, Onslow County, Sampson County, and Wilmington. Hope you have some good luck soon. NC Lottery

12/04/2014 09:01 - bill P.

I love all the 2 chance drawings!!!

12/04/2014 07:48 - Earnestine b.

I really needs to get luckly

12/04/2014 07:29 - patricia b.

One cannot win you donot play.

12/04/2014 07:27 - james w.

Make me a millionaire.. i have ideas that can better our economy

12/04/2014 07:16 - cheryl a d.

how do i enter my points to enter to win? NC Lottery
Easy peasy! Click on the "Lucke-Rewards" tab at the top of the page and follow the instructions. You can click "Find the entry code" if you're having trouble figuring out what numbers to enter. Best of luck!

12/04/2014 05:57 - Kenneth F.

Can't understand why these games end on Dec 19th - yet the lottery folks have already yanked them from all of the stores - makes no sense!!

12/04/2014 05:33 - Robert G.

I will continue to play and contribute to the NCEL. You always have a second chance. Thank you!

12/04/2014 05:11 - JULIA J.

Notice on some games that they are on pick up and others say reordered, can you tell me what is the difference if there is one? NC Lottery
Certainly! The games that say "re-ordered" are games that are popular enough with players to keep on the shelves. Game suites like "Win for life" and the "Bucks" family will be re-ordered when they run low on top prizes remaining.

12/04/2014 05:05 - ronald f.

I know how the player who played 15 tickets feels I played 25 of the new Jokers wild game on wed. the 3rd with only 1 ten dollar winner. I have played scratch off tickets for over 20 years in 3 states and have never played in a state with such dismal odds. The place that I play every day has not seen a winner over 100 in weeks. On the 10 dollar Millionaire Jingle Bucks no one in any store I go to has ever seen a single winner on the BONUS side. We do not mind helping with education but it seems that you are stealing not gambling.

12/04/2014 04:32 - Christopher J.

So I wonder what the odds of winning the top prize is if you end a game before all the top prizes are won? The end date should be posted when the game begins. Also when you reprint like you did with jumbo bucks, there is no way of knowing if the ticket you are buying is the old ones or the new ones.It just seems to me that you are decreasing the odds of a win in a already dismal one sided game of chance. NC Lottery
Thanks for your question. There's no real way to assign an "end date" when a game begins. Some games sell much faster than others.

12/04/2014 04:14 - Tracy C.

Se la Vie...........

12/04/2014 02:12 - Maurice G.

thank you

12/04/2014 01:50 - lisa p.

What happened to all the negative comments players have been sending in? Too late for damage control now. Everybodys complaining about tickets. Im sure your email is piling up with unhappy players. Is that why it takes so long to post our comments?NC Lottery
You can find all the comments you're referring to on the previous blog entries where they were made. Responding to questions on social media is one of many important things the lottery's communications team does. We do our best to respond within 24 hours, but depending what's going on it might take longer. You can also call the lottery's customer service team from 8-5:30pm Monday-Friday at 877-962-7529.

12/04/2014 01:15 - jason r.

tired of losing ALL the time!!i bet i lost on over 15 straight scrach offs sice SUNDAY, zero winners.i wish they would not even print any scratch offs.sate getting richNC Lottery
We only want folks to play the lottery as long as they're enjoying themselves, with money they can afford to spend on entertainment. Because you always have a chance to win, but never a guarantee. We appreciate you very much as a player but there are many things more important in life than games of chance. So please play responsibly. The lottery's profits benefit education across the state.

12/04/2014 12:11 - Betty T.

I need to find if some pick 3 tickets are a winners. {Removed} Please tell if one of these five tickets are winners.NC Lottery
We can't assist you with that here in the Lucke-Zone. You can take the tickets to a retailer to have them scanned, or mail them to the lottery. If you have more questions please call customer service at 877-962-7529

12/04/2014 11:39 - perry w.

i hope that my luck will come soon.

12/04/2014 10:31 - harvey v.

maybe your prints Sum winners this time home 40 some 50would be nice

Eight instant games set to end this month

December 4, 2014 Posted by NC Lottery at 9:45 AM

Win up to $1,000,000 every 4 minutes

Big Thrills Served Fast.

Progressive Jackpot Estimate