Lumberton man wins $61,600 playing Pick 4

January 27, 2017 Posted by NC Lottery at 1:42 PM

Fortune cookies. Family birthdays. Whatever pops into your head. We’ve heard all kinds of stories from players about how they choose what numbers to play.

For Eric McMillan, it was using a family member’s address to play Pick 4 that won him a total of $61,600 on 16 tickets in the Jan. 21 evening drawing. Eight of his tickets were the 50/50 play type and eight more were the exact play type.

McMillan, a warehouse worker, said he plans to use his prize money to make home improvements.

Please join us in congratulating this winner. And good luck, everyone.

(Editor's note: The original blog incorrectly stated that Mr. McMillan won 40% more prize money because he won in a drawing held on a Monday during the Pick 4 promotion. In fact, his lucky numbers won in the Saturday, Jan. 21 drawing. We apologize for the error and thank you to the commenter who pointed out the error.)

64 COMMENTS

2/05/2017 11:04 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (GB3) - Of course, the size of a payout depends entirely on how many players had the good luck to win on a particular set of numbers. We love it when popular numbers are the winning numbers. But the lottery doesn't choose what numbers folks like to play, and the results of the drawings are completely random. Over a long enough period of time, Pick 4 is designed to pay out 50% in prizes.

2/05/2017 11:04 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER (GB3) - Everyone who won a Pick 4 prize on a Monday in January won 40% more in prize money than they would have if the promotion was not in effect. Because of the relatively small sample sizes - 8 total Monday drawings in December versus 10 in Monday drawings in January - a median comparison is the best statistical way to compare the payouts. The median payout for a Monday drawing in December was $63,099 in December compared to $90,678 on those days in January. Only once in December was a Monday payout greater than $100,000 and four times in January.

2/05/2017 02:01 - bradley s.

40% promo didn't pay jack for whole Month. Paid less for players on average than regular Pick 4 draws. Sure that more money was spent in January on those 4-5 Monday's. Worst non hit numbers ever. Big win for lottery. Bravo

1/31/2017 09:41 - kevin w.

Congrats!!!!

1/30/2017 04:34 - michael e.

I want to know how you pick the winners for the prizes when you use points to buy chances for drawings ?NC Lottery
This is one of the most common questions we get. Rewards drawings are held using a random number generator according to specific security procedures. To ensure fairness to all players, all lottery drawings are done with an auditor present and all the lottery’s security practices are independently reviewed on a regular basis. The more entries you make into a drawing, the more chances you have to win. But having even just one entry in a drawing gives you a chance to win. Here's a link to a blog we wrote with more information: http://bit.ly/2exhjp9

1/29/2017 09:38 - Melinda B.

Congrats Eric..I work with him

1/28/2017 02:04 - michael e.

hey hey hey you won good for you I wish it was my turn????

1/28/2017 01:48 - Charlene W.

Must be nice

1/28/2017 12:24 - Jerry C.

Nice going Bro . !!!

1/28/2017 11:10 - Darlene W.

Congrats

1/28/2017 10:39 - Loretta M.

Jan 21 was on a Saturday. I thought the 40% more was for Mondays only. Congrats anyway.NC Lottery
You're absolutely right. He claimed his prize money on Monday, Jan. 23 but won the prize money in the Saturday drawing. We apologize for the error. Thank you for pointing this out so that we could correct the blog.

1/28/2017 10:00 - Ciera H.

Congratulations

1/28/2017 09:38 - Ebony W.

I've been playing for years, no luck. Starting to think its a waste of money.

1/28/2017 09:22 - Kimberly W.

Congrats!!!

1/28/2017 09:09 - Ann J.

Congratulations to all winners

1/28/2017 08:55 - Billy W.

God bless with the right number at the right time congratulation

1/28/2017 08:26 - Roberta B.

So happy for you...we got one more Monday....going for it!

1/28/2017 07:58 - Paula M.

Way to go! congratulations! Hopefully I'm nexton the wwin list.

1/28/2017 06:39 - sharolyn s.

Way to go I'm dreaming of doing the same thing soon.Enjoy your winnings

1/28/2017 04:34 - Ms Xzavier C.

Congratulations ??

1/28/2017 02:09 - Sandra Diane S.

Congratulations

1/28/2017 01:37 - Alton J.

Can I get a loan

1/28/2017 12:36 - Barry L.

Nice bro!

1/28/2017 12:12 - David S.

Winnaah! Keep Playing and keep Winning!

1/28/2017 12:10 - Teresa J.

Congratulations to you!

1/28/2017 12:05 - Gregory T.

Hey Congrats! Well played.

1/28/2017 12:03 - Oabern L.

Congrats!

1/27/2017 11:18 - Bobby G.

Yup

1/27/2017 10:29 - Howard S.

Congratulations

1/27/2017 10:22 - Betty M.

Congratulations! Way to go

1/27/2017 10:19 - reginald c.

I will be rich one day On all I know

1/27/2017 09:56 - Benjamin B.

Get your money big guy

1/27/2017 09:50 - Michael P.

Hey man congratulations I'm waiting on 4488,3300,2855,1225,and 444

1/27/2017 09:47 - Clarissa R.

Congrats!

1/27/2017 08:58 - Madlena W.

Great job on winning. Stay safe with the home improvements.

1/27/2017 08:30 - tommy k.

Congrats ???????

1/27/2017 08:28 - David L.

Congratulations

1/27/2017 08:21 - Christopher W.

Congrats on your win.

1/27/2017 08:11 - charles d.

good job

1/27/2017 08:00 - Amber H.

Wow....Thanks God

1/27/2017 07:50 - Wanda N.

Congratulations!!!!!!!

1/27/2017 07:48 - Kelly K.

Congrats!!!!

1/27/2017 07:43 - jessie g.

Congratulations

1/27/2017 07:41 - George H.

o kay

1/27/2017 07:32 - Kicia P.

Congratulations

1/27/2017 07:11 - Casey T.

Congrats!! Mine coming real soon!

1/27/2017 06:35 - JULIA J.

Please bring the promotion back, love the extra 40% payout!!

1/27/2017 05:58 - Shaunda C.

I won 1200 yay me!!!! Congrats to me on my next bigger winNC Lottery
That's awesome!

1/27/2017 05:12 - Frances P.

Congratulations to a hard worker!

1/27/2017 05:08 - Arneshia M.

That's awesome! Congrats!

1/27/2017 05:06 - Melvin R.

I think this story has a mistake as to which date he won the promotion on. It says that he won on January 21st which is a Saturday not a Monday as the promotion states. Just wanted to clear that up so other players aren't confused.NC Lottery
You're absolutely right. He claimed his prize money on Monday, Jan. 23 but won the prize money in the Saturday drawing. We apologize for the error. Thank you for pointing this out so that we could correct the blog.

1/27/2017 04:52 - Michael W.

Nice. That is a blessing. Congrats! Also, I wanna tell the NCEL you guys should add something to the ticket scanner. It should let you know if you have a winning ticket and how much it is. Thanks and Congrats again Eric!NC Lottery
An updated version of the app is in development. It will allow you to scan a ticket to see if it has won a prize. When we have a release date, we'll let everyone know!

1/27/2017 04:33 - Tony S.

Congrats you lucky dog! Hopefully the hone improvements include a man cave for you !!

1/27/2017 03:57 - Marlon S.

Congratulations

1/27/2017 03:56 - Marlon S.

Congratulations

1/27/2017 03:24 - Larry H.

Congratulations!

1/27/2017 03:20 - Barbara p.

Congrats

1/27/2017 03:10 - Denver G.

Wow, sometimes us serious players think a like! I too used the same strategy on 2 full pay slips. Too bad for me I played 1454 that night. I worked the docks for over 30 yrs. Congrats Mr. McMillan ,"fellow forklift diver". Thank you LZ for the follow up on my complaint. NC Lottery
Sure thing. Sorry it was not the customer service experience we want you to have. Glad that it is resolved now.

1/27/2017 03:09 - Patricia B.

CONGRATULATIONS........

1/27/2017 02:59 - Megan L.

Congratulations

1/27/2017 02:45 - Justin H.

Congratulations!

1/27/2017 02:38 - Safron H.

Congrats!I will be next winner! :)

1/27/2017 02:27 - avery f.

Way to go Eric I'm next

1/27/2017 02:04 - Barbara R.

Congrats

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Lumberton man wins $61,600 playing Pick 4

January 27, 2017 Posted by NC Lottery at 1:42 PM

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