Secret’s out: Your favorite game is now twice as fun

April 25, 2021 Posted by NC Lottery at 9:54 AM

The wait is over! Cash 5 Double Play is here to stay.

It’s very simple: For the first time ever, you have two ways to play and win with your Cash 5 numbers.

For just $1 more per play, you can add Double Play to each individual Cash 5 play or you can Double Play all of your Cash 5 plays by checking the “Yes” box at the bottom of your play slip.*

When you opt into Double Play, the same numbers you picked in your original Cash 5 play stay in the running for the second drawing exclusively for Double Play where you could win larger cash prizes for matching 2, 3, 4, and 5 numbers.

Did we mention that this second drawing happens every night? Well, it does.

The prizes for the Cash 5 Double Play drawing are different too. Check it out:

Match all 5 balls and win $50,000 (odds are 1 in 962,598)
Match 4 balls and win $500 (odds are 1 in 5,066)
Match 3 balls and win $12 (odds are 1 in 137)
Match 2 balls and win $3 (odds are 1 in 11.4)

So, give yourself a second chance to win every night with the same numbers and win larger prizes for matching 2, 3, and 4 numbers.That’s Double Play. Available now in retail locations.

*For those of you who like to play EZ Match: you can add both EZ Match and Double Play to your Cash 5 ticket.

36 COMMENTS

4/27/2024 08:22 - JoAnn K.

does double play use a whole separate set of balls for the 2nd draw? or does it use the same balls just another draw? NC Lottery
Hi Joann, the second draw is actually on a whole different machine with different balls. Just another security measure in place to prevent any opportunity to tamper with the results.

7/29/2023 04:48 - Simon G.

its been 2 years. are there any plans to add double play online?NC Lottery
Hi Simon, there are not currently plans to add Cash 5 Double Play to the Online Play service. We appreciate receiving player feedback on what features they would like to see in the future and we'll share your interest in this add-on with our produce development team. Thanks for playing!

1/29/2022 08:47 - Marissa R.

I want to purchase online but I don’t see an option to for double pay or ez when I checkout? Only the regular $1 play? NC Lottery
Hi Marissa. Double Play and EZ Match are only available at retail locations.Sorry for the inconvenience.

5/17/2021 08:23 - Gloria C.

Thanks for this great informations.

5/11/2021 01:25 - tyrone c.

I matched 4 out of 5 on the original cash 5 with double play added, do I receive payout for the original cash 5 or both even though I didn't match any of the double play numbers?NC Lottery
Hi Tyrone, great question! You would receive the prize only for the drawing in which you matched, which in this case would be the first Cash 5 drawing, and not the Double Play drawing. Congratulations on the win!

5/10/2021 07:39 - Richard B.

I had 4 of the 5 numbers with a chance to win $500.00, but knew NOTHING About a Double Play. Smh smh

5/03/2021 08:11 - Schmeka w.

I dont think this game is no better than the regular cash 5 it's already hard enough to try and get 4 or 5 numbers then you want to add a double play. I don't think the odds of winning are any better

4/29/2021 06:31 - Mark B.

I want to play this online PLEASE. NC Lottery
Hi Mark, thanks for the feedback, we are happy that you are excited to try Double Play! The Online Play system currently does not accommodate Double Play, but we will share your feedback with the game developers. In the meantime, we hope that you will be able to try Double Play at a lottery retailer at your convenience. Thanks!

4/28/2021 10:44 - William D.

understand that the lower is better pay out. What about the extra money if any like the first increases the Jackpot, what about the double play. Where does the extra money go?NC Lottery
Hi William, thanks for the great question! The funds that would otherwise grow the jackpot in the Cash 5 base game have been deployed into the larger prizes at the levels where more wins occur for Double Play. The prize structure for Double Play has been calculated to result in a similar overall payout to the original Cash 5 game over time. I hope that helps to better explain the Double Play prize structure. Good luck!

4/27/2021 09:34 - ella c.

If I play cash 5 for 2 drawings will the 2nd drawing count towards double play or will it count for the next night? NC Lottery
Hi Ella, great question! If you purchase multiple draws in the same way as in the past, they will count towards the normal Cash 5 drawings on consecutive days. The Double Play drawing is a separate checkbox that you would select on the play slip, similar to how you would select EZ Match. You can see an example play slip with the Double Play option on our website here: https://nclottery.com/Cash5How. Thanks, and good luck!

4/27/2021 08:42 - Kathy L.

Big no on this. You rightfully encourage people to play only what they can afford and to have fun. But now, if I don't spend twice as much a day on Cash 5, I'm risking my regular numbers I have played for years coming up in the second drawing and winning nothing? Lucy, 'splain how you decided this was a good sell. NC Lottery
Hi Kathy, we understand your concern. Lottery games are meant to be a fun form of entertainment! We hope that you don't feel any pressure to participate in more drawings than you are comfortable with.

4/27/2021 09:14 - William D.

so regular cash 5 takes the extra money to increase the Jackpot, so what happens to the extra money for the Double Play when no one wins? Does it go to increase the first jack pot?NC Lottery
Hi William, great question! We introduced Double Play to give players an opportunity to win even more money at the prize levels with the best odds to win. Double Play’s prizes for matching 2, 3, and 4 balls were increased by amounts that were structured to result in a similar overall payout to the original Cash 5 game over time. This means more money will be won by players for matching 2, 3, and 4 numbers!

4/27/2021 08:35 - Cynthia B.

Is this only available at stores? I don't see this option for online play.NC Lottery
Hi Cynthia, yes, Double Play is only available at stores for the time being. Sorry about that! We hope that you will still be able to enjoy this new Cash 5 feature.

4/26/2021 02:45 - Denver G.

THX LZ. I'm no expert, but I have been known to stay at the Holiday Inn Express. Seriously though a well informed player is a smart player. Do your research .

4/26/2021 10:53 - NC Lottery

In response to Danielle W.: Hi Danielle, Double Play should be available at all lottery retailers now. I apologize that they weren't at your retailer this weekend. We're working hard to ensure that retailers know all the details, and we anticipate that this effort combined with the valuable input provided by players will have everyone up to date soon. If you still have trouble finding Double Play, please let us know the location of the retailer and we will make sure that they are informed and supplied with play slips. For scratch-offs, it is up to each retailer to decide which games they want to offer, but there is no shortage of scratch-off tickets on our end. Thanks for the great questions!

4/26/2021 08:16 - William D.

Two Questions: is the top prize going to go up if no one wins the Double play? is it possible to choose which one I want to play or must play the first cash 5 drawing to enter the second drawing?NC Lottery
Hi William, thanks for the great questions! The top prize for Double Play is always set at $50,000. At this time players cannot play Double Play by itself without also entering the first drawing because it is considered an add-on rather than a stand alone game. I hope that helps to answer your questions.

4/26/2021 07:44 - Denver G.

I like it. I Got a 5 panel double draw ($10) ticket yesterday. It had 3 numbers for $5 on the 1st draw and 2 lines with 2 numbers each on the 2nd draw for $6. Pretty cool. Saw confusion in the store already this morning, players thinking they had won a little something when they had not, because they did not purchase the double play. I like the payouts!!!!NC Lottery
Hi Denver, we are glad that you are enjoying Double Play! Thanks for being a fan of the lottery, we appreciate your support and contribution of your expertise with all our players. And congrats on the wins!

4/26/2021 06:40 - JoAnn L.

WHY start a new option and not make it available online. ALOT OF people still prefer to be socially distant and ONLINE OFFERS us that option. So unfair to roll out new options only for in person retailers or TVM machines.

4/26/2021 06:38 - JoAnn L.

why is double play option not available online?NC Lottery
Hi Joann, we're happy that you are interested in trying Double Play! We chose to roll out this new feature at retailers first, but the game developers read these blog comments and your feedback goes a long way in helping them to determine which new features to add online. Thank you!

4/26/2021 03:37 - Tim M.

LZ, how was the second drawing done? I watched tonight. I saw the actual drawing with an extra set under it when shown at the end. Was this computer generated? I only saw one drawing. Shouldn't both be the bouncing balls? NC Lottery
Hi Tim, unfortunately due to time restrictions on TV we aren't able to televise the second Cash 5 drawing, but it is conducted using the same type of ball machine and the same procedure as the first Cash 5 drawing. Hopefully we will have a solution for this soon, and I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

4/26/2021 01:34 - Mary M.

When will Double play start on online purchases??NC Lottery
Hi Mary, thanks for your interest in Double Play! We wanted to roll out this new feature at retailers first, but your feedback is very helpful to us in determining which new features to add to Online Play.

4/26/2021 01:09 - Jeanie S.

I was excited about the new second drawing, then became a little perplexed and then a little upset as I read the rules. I'd much rather spend $2 on two "regular" tickets for one drawing, than buy 1 "regular" and 1 "second chance" for the same $2. The second drawing "jackpot" reduces by $50,000!!! the $500 prize is pari- mutuel!! and wow! the next prizes are for a big $12 and $3. Just make the Cash 5 game an afternoon and evening draw like a lot of states have. Players: This new rollout option should really insult your intelligence.

4/26/2021 12:04 - kenny h.

Well I watched the cash 5 drawing and was waiting for 5 more numbers to drop. And the numbers appeared on the tv screen. Does that mean the 2nd drawing numbers are computer generated? If the answer is yes then that means yes is also the answer to Are y’all being even greedy again?NC Lottery
Hi Kenny, unfortunately due to time restrictions on TV we aren't able to show the second drawing at this time but it is conducted using the same type of ball machine and the same procedure as the first Cash 5 drawing. I sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

4/25/2021 10:39 - Danielle W.

So no double play available! WT*!!? NO where, well 1 store in Raleigh and 2 in Durham. Also it was hard to get my slip to go through at terminal (cashier) with EZ match marked for all plays. Took 3xs! And since you can't cancel tickets...well I feel like $10 is in order. I bought tickets hoping to wake up a winner on my Birthday tomorrow, but didn't even get what I wanted. And also why are stores out of scratch offs...what is really going on?NC Lottery
Hi Danielle, thanks for the great question! I wanted to provide an adequately detailed answer that won't fit in this response so please see the above comment with the reply. Thanks!

4/25/2021 09:49 - Kristi S.

If your numbers fall with the first set of numbers you win jackpot for the night, but if they fall in second chance then you win 50K and other prizes. Is this correct? NC Lottery
Hi Kristi, that is correct. Also, if you happen to match numbers in both the base drawing and the Double Play drawing, then you would win both prizes. Good luck and thanks for your interest in Double Play!

4/25/2021 08:49 - Douglas H.

Are there going to be new play slips the only ones I saw at the store today where the regular cash five play slips without any of these options or is this only something you can play at the counter or the vending machines? Thanks:-)NC Lottery
Hi DL, new plays slips with Double Play should now be available at all lottery retailers. I apologize that they weren't at your local retailer when you went to play most recently. Some retailers might still be getting caught up on all the details of Double Play but we hope that soon everyone will be an expert on the new feature. If you continue to have difficulty finding Double Play plays slips, just let us know the name and location of the retailer and we will make sure that they have everything they need. Thanks!

4/25/2021 04:36 - Philip A.

What happened to the $100,000.00 starting prize? You guys reduced it to $50,000.00 and still want people to increase the amount they play by $1.00. Simply put, this is HORRIBLE. Whoever brought this bad idea just killed cash 5 game. Mark my words.NC Lottery
Hi Philip, the base Cash 5 game is not changed by the new Double Play add-on. Cash 5 still starts with a jackpot of $100,000 and only costs $1 to play. There is now a second Cash 5 drawing that will occur every evening, where your numbers can be entered to win a different set of prizes with larger prizes for matching 2, 3, and 4 numbers. Hope this helps explain the new offering!

4/25/2021 04:34 - Kimberly A.

Can the double play be added when you play online? Or is it you can only add it when you play on a play slip and play in the store?NC Lottery
Hi Kimberly, at this time Double Play is only available at lottery retailers and vending machines. We appreciate hearing that our players would be interested in seeing it available for online purchase as well though!

4/25/2021 03:28 - Crystal C.

Would be nice if this option was available for online play too when purchasing tickets.

4/25/2021 12:29 - Carol W.

Why can't you Double Play when you purchase online?NC Lottery
Hi Carol, at this time we have not added Double Play to our Online Play offerings. We appreciate hearing player feedback on all our games, and the folks that develop our online products read this blog as well.

4/25/2021 12:23 - William A.

Making sure I'm reading this right. You pay the extra buck and catch all 5 numbers. You win the Jackpot we will say 100K and then a additional 50k on any jackpot win if you pay the extra buck on double play.

4/25/2021 12:11 - wanda b.

Can you buy EZ Match and Double Play online too?NC Lottery
Hi Wanda, EZ Match and Double Play are not currently available for Online Play. We appreciate hearing that players would be interested in seeing those add-ons available online in the future though!

4/25/2021 12:06 - Thom B.

Are you guys not going to tell us when the second drawing each night is? Or is that still a “secret”?NC Lottery
Hi Thom, the Double Play drawing will occur immediately after the first Cash 5 drawing every night.

4/25/2021 11:44 - William D.

personally feel these bottom prizes should be this way in the first place. Also as a gambler i will play this second chance only don't see HOW on the on line play?NC Lottery
Hi William, Double Play is not available for Online Play at this time. We appreciate hearing that our players would like to see an add-on like this added to Online Play in the future though!

4/25/2021 11:34 - Gloria C.

Thank you for this great informations. Ready to play this game.

4/25/2021 10:26 - Michael B.

I went to three stores this morning and they did not have the double play. Finally I figured out after the 4th store that if their terminal did not update this nor available ! NC Lottery
Hi Michael, sorry about that! All our lottery retailers should be able to offer Cash 5 Double Play. If you continue to have issues please let us know.

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Secret’s out: Your favorite game is now twice as fun

April 25, 2021 Posted by NC Lottery at 9:54 AM

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