Iredell County man started jumping around after becoming first $100,000 digital instant winner

December 23, 2023 Posted by NC Lottery at 9:41 AM

A celebration between Mooresville resident Francis Garcia Arita and his wife broke out Sunday after he became the first player to win a $100,000 prize playing a digital instant game.

“It was wild,” he recalled. “I still don’t believe it. Just unreal.”

Arita won his big prize playing The Lamp. He played $20 to win $100,000 and the odds of that win are 1 in 1,000,000. He said he immediately told his wife the big news.

“We were jumping around,” Arita laughed. “She was so happy.”

He said he started playing digital instant games after seeing a commercial for them on TV.

“I already had the app so I thought I would try it,” Arita said. “I started winning some so I kept playing.”

He claimed his prize at lottery headquarters Friday in Raleigh. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $71,256.

Arita plans to pay some bills with his winnings and save the rest.

The big win came less than a month after the launch of new digital instant games. The games offer a new way to play the lottery and win prizes.

In The Lamp game, a player can play from 50 cents to $30. The top prize that can be won is $150,000.

Digital instant games are played exclusively online on the lottery’s website or on the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Eleven different games are available to play online now.

During the holiday season, Play Smart, Gift Smart raises awareness that lottery tickets are not appropriate gifts for kids as part of a national gift responsibly campaign. Research shows that the earlier someone participates in or is exposed to gambling, the more likely they are to develop a gambling problem later in life. Check out this blog to learn more.

32 COMMENTS

8/06/2024 12:40 - keith t.

These digital instant games are a scam....nobody wins over 250 bucks. They just said a lady from SC won on a wheel game and NC doesn't even have that digital instant game. This money is definitely not going to education either.NC Lottery
Hi, Keith! The winner you're referring to from Fort Mill, SC won playing Wheel of Bonuses, one of our progressive jackpot Digital Instants. You can find the story about that win here: https://nclottery.com/NewsBlogDetails/2024/8/5/South-Carolina-woman-plays-her-favorite-digital-instant-wins-260591-jackpot and more info about the game here: https://nclottery.com/digital-instant/3777/wheel-of-bonuses.

12/29/2023 12:23 - gracie l.

I am going to be the next winner. I am thinking like a winner.I am happy for the person that won.

12/28/2023 02:22 - Porfirio D.

I know you guys read and reply to these post, Please Have the Accounting Department to get off their butt and update my account so I can be verified and add money to my account. I uploaded my documents to the secure link three times and nothing. Its a simple switch my First & Last name are Reversed. My first name is PORFIRIONC Lottery
Hey there, Porfirio! Our social team that moderates these blogs doesn't have access to your account or this info, but you can check on the status of your withdrawal request and identity verification at https://nclottery.com/Help by speaking to a member of our Online Support team. We apologize for any inconvenience!

12/27/2023 10:30 - NC Lottery

@Joseph, when you play Digital Instants, your ticket is played against a "full deck" of all the possible outcomes. This means each purchase has the same chance to win every prize, including the top prize. The outcome of a play is determined once you click the Play button and the system randomly selects a ticket. Regardless of how many people are playing Digital Instants, or where they are playing, the odds of winning are the same – it can just take a whole lot of luck to be a lucky winner!

12/27/2023 07:51 - Joseph R.

I quickly realized these digital instants, while entertaining, are about as "random" as instants. You know, the kind of "random" where someone can pick a one million + winning ticket at the same store!! Yes, it has happened more than you realize. I've said and continue to say, it's not random when huge jackpot winning instants are distributed throughout SMALL towns. Don't believe it? Just the reports from NCEL. It's in black and white. Then this this 100k jackpot prize after spending $20!! Are you kidding me??? Instants would have a payout of one million +!!! Scam Central

12/26/2023 04:13 - stephen f.

the week it started i wont $125 and $500 on the lamp, and lots of little wins $45-80. When those became less frequent, i cashed out. Up over $800. Just gotta get out before its all gone.

12/26/2023 03:56 - stephen f.

i started playing the day it came out. Got up $1,000 and was winning seemingly every other spin. Then all of a sudden it stopped. Cashed out at +$890. All from a $40 initial deposit. was happy to take some from the NCEL.

12/26/2023 10:15 - Lilly A.

Trust me this online games are rigged. Look up Virginia online games, there's billions that are lost every day by playing these online games. Look up the company who makes these games, they are there just to get more money from you. Try to avoid the lottery against all costs

12/26/2023 12:49 - Edith A.

I'm wondering how much money he spent before winning the dab? I tried these games and they suck. Better off to go to the casino and play the slots instead, you have a better chance of breaking even at least.

12/25/2023 09:11 - Angela A.

We all know it is a game of chance, but what we are saying is the outcomes are so very different when playing for money. I myself was up over $4000 on DEMO mode. Just played $100 and for $2 a spin and no Bonus no big WIN and last .50 got bonus and won $15 and it took it all within minutes. We don't think the lottery owe us anything, but fair is fair when it comes to odds and these stories. I been playing the lottery since day 1 and have never WON $500 or higher! That is every game NCEL offers. It will come one day or go broke trying LOL!

12/25/2023 11:42 - NC Lottery

@Jami - Each time you play a Digital Instant game, be it in demo mode or money mode, your ticket is randomly selected from all possible outcomes. The number of possible outcomes doesn’t change for any reason. Each play is an independent event – so how many others are playing Digital Instants, your previous purchases, etc. have no bearing on your odds of being a lucky winner. Once you click the Play button, that game is its own independent event.

12/25/2023 10:48 - Michael R.

Come on NCEL, your neighboring states of VA and SC are bringing out these great numbers in the pick 3 and pick 4 yet you'll are giving us these trash numbers. You are not paying back fairly to the players.

12/25/2023 08:20 - Gray C.

It amazes me that people think these games actually owe them something.Its Gambling otherwise known as a GAME of chance. Its not a coke machine-if you choose to give the NCEL your paychecks savings and bill money, then thats your problem.

12/25/2023 06:49 - Mariel A.

Congratulations I played yesterday for the first time. Though I didn't win, but it was woworth a try.

12/24/2023 08:14 - Vivian p.

Congratulations Arita to you and your wife. Happy Holidays.

12/24/2023 07:17 - Joe S.

Congratulations from Charlotte! :)

12/24/2023 05:01 - TIMOTHY B.

I've had over 1000+ plays for the JACKPOT and NEVER came close. I'm DOWN $5,000. UR FULL OF SHTNC Lottery
Hi Timothy, the overall odds of winning any prize on digital instants vary, for example on the Lamp the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.54, but just like other lottery games, it takes a lot of luck to win a bigger prize. You can find the odds for all prize levels for Digital Instants on each game page here: https://nclottery.com/digital-instants

12/24/2023 04:56 - Patricia G.

Is playing Digital Instants similar to buying a scratch off with a finite number of top prizes or like playing slots where the random number generator can drop a jackpot anytime if your timing is right? NC Lottery
Hi Patricia, when you play Digital Instants, your ticket is played against a "full deck" of all the possible outcomes. This means each purchase has the same chance to win every prize, including the top prize. The outcome of a play is determined once you click the Play button and the system randomly selects a ticket. Regardless of how many people are playing Digital Instants, the odds of winning are the same – it can just take a whole lot of luck to be a lucky winner!

12/24/2023 01:13 - Jami R.

I dont believe this for one minute. These games are highway robbery. I paid $100 and was playing for $5 ech spin and went for 23 spins before it gave me ANYTHING at all. After losing $100 i went to the demo and got it up to $6,000. Thats 6 thousand dollars. What the heck. It fools you by playing well in demo and takes your money when you play for real. Id be ashamed to even promote these games. I think its winning propaganda and not a real story. Sorry if you are offended by me saying that NCEL. You cant use the excuse of more people more tickets sold on this one.

12/24/2023 11:00 - RHONDA L.

Congratulations!! Great win

12/24/2023 02:17 - Chad C.

I love Arabian cuture

12/23/2023 10:08 - William G.

So the odds of willing are 1 in 1 million yet NCEL o ly pays out 5,000 to 1? That's some of the worst odds I've ever heard of and far worse than playing an actual NCEL scratched ticket. NCEL really needs to be more player friendly with some of these odds.NC Lottery
Hi William, I wanted to share some more info on odds for Digital Instants. The odds that this player would win $100,000 on $20 play in "The Lamp" are 1 in 1,000,000. However, the overall odds of winning any prize on "The Lamp" are 1 in 3.54. You can see the odds of winning all the different prizes in the rules for this game here as well: https://info.npi.nclottery.com/GameHelpPage.aspx?GameID=3738&popup=1&LNG=ENG&CasinoID=192&BackBtn=0&HideCloseWin=0

12/23/2023 08:47 - William A.

These games are terrible. I’m down 1000 dollars already. Small wins and give it right back.

12/23/2023 08:16 - Lisa B.

congratulations!

12/23/2023 07:52 - Margaret G.

I wonder if the lottery is 100% transparent. On even given day the fast play game will produce maybe 5-10 winning tickets, even when it’s reasonably high but on the 22nd almost 40 winning were produced and half of the jackpot. It’s really weird when these jackpots are geared to hit after collection so much money from players. The winner that play on an everyday basic can’t even get 500.00 but on one given day 40 people can get 500.00 to 2500.00 and when a question is asked the response is a lot of mombo jumbo that Makes no sense as to the reason why. The random story is just not adding up when you see things like this happening more and more. NC Lottery
Hi Margaret, the Fast Play Progressive Jackpot had reached over $1 million on Dec. 22nd. Only the second time that has ever happened! When the jackpot gets that high, more players are likely to be buying tickets. When more players are buying tickets, there's a greater chance that more big prizes will be won!

12/23/2023 06:03 - rita p.

I swear I just don't believe all this lottery winning that's going on so yall say because I been playing nc lottery since day 1 and I bet I haven't won no more than $1000 and that's be years on a $30 scratch off just a ripppppp off ijs just sad

12/23/2023 05:45 - Antonio J.

Congratulations....I've been playing digital games also... hopefully I'm next ????????

12/23/2023 02:05 - Delane W.

I'm glad you have digital games, because I am housebound. Thank you so much.

12/23/2023 01:58 - craig p.

I had got to stage where I would select the tiles for the top prize but was bump off the game before I could make my selections,seemed like it was riggedNC Lottery
Hi Craig, I wanted to share that the outcome for each Digital Instant game is determined at the time of purchase. So if you get disconnected from your browser or app, you’ll be able to re-enter our site or app and view the results and the replay of the game. If you get disconnected during a game, once you log back in, select “My Account” and “Digital Instants History” under the “Online Play History” section. The most recently played game will be at the top of the screen, and you can click “View” to replay the game and the results.

12/23/2023 11:36 - sheila s.

Congratulations!

12/23/2023 10:28 - Angela A.

Well I am glad someone can WIN! I was only playing for $10 and lost four figures in less than 30 minutes playing this game and did not get a single Free Bonus. Finally went down to .50 and got the Free Bonus to WIN $15 These games are like highway robbery @NCEL!

12/23/2023 10:02 - Brad N.

SAVE THE REST....excellent plan...maybe tweak it to INVEST the rest.Congrats!

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Iredell County man started jumping around after becoming first $100,000 digital instant winner

December 23, 2023 Posted by NC Lottery at 9:41 AM

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