$12 Billion for Education

The North Carolina Education Lottery launched 20 years ago with a great cause: to raise money for education. Fast forward to fiscal year 2025, the lottery raised over $1 billion for the third year in a row. That means North Carolina wins an average of $3 million a day for education programs. So far, lottery proceeds have helped build more than 100 new or renovated schools, provided a free preschool education for over 270,000 children, and sent over 1 million students to college with lottery-funded scholarships and grants. As the only lottery in the U.S. to increase sales every year in operation, the impact of lottery dollars continues to grow.

Benefits for Every County

School Construction

Meet Colby & Samantha, educators at the newly constructed Mitchell County 3-8 School. Their county is one of 62 who have received state grants funded by the lottery for new and improved school buildings.

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Support Staff

Meet Paula Walker, head custodian for a Gates County middle school. The lottery is the primary source of state funds to staff our schools with substitute teachers, office assistants, and custodians. Last year, $386 million supported these positions.

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Free Pre-K

Meet Megan, the mother of an NC Pre-K student. Thanks to lottery funds, her daughter Nellie was welcomed into a preschool program at no cost. More than 11,600 four-year-olds experienced the same opportunity last year.

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Scholarships

Meet Ella, a student pursuing her dream of becoming a family therapist. The lottery helps make college more affordable for North Carolinians through the new Next NC Scholarship, supporting more than 136,000 scholarship awards last year.

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Winning for Education

Discover how the $1 billion raised by the lottery last year plays a positive role across North Carolina.

Discover How

Winning for Local Economies

Did you know $.96 of every dollar spent on a lottery ticket comes back to the state in the form of prizes, retail commissions and earnings for education?

Economic Impact

Community Sponsorship & Events

Check out our many community, sport and collegiate sponsorships and events across the state.

Sponsorship Info Upcoming Events

Winning Responsibly

We are consciously involved in our communities in a variety of ways. From volunteering to encouraging responsible play, the lottery is accountable to its many stakeholders.

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Share a story about your own community for the chance to win $2000 at movingncstudentsforward.com

Former Craven County Superintendent recalls scratching the first lottery ticket twenty years ago. March 27, 2026

Dr. Wendy Miller was the teacher of the year back in 2006. She is a big part of lottery history and has seen first-hand, the benefit lottery dollars have on public education.

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$12 Billion for Education

School Construction

Meet Colby & Samantha, educators at the newly constructed Mitchell County 3-8 School. Their county is one of 62 who have received state grants funded by the lottery for new and improved school buildings.

Support Staff

Meet Paula Walker, head custodian for a Gates County middle school. The lottery is the primary source of state funds to staff our schools with substitute teachers, office assistants, and custodians. Last year, $386 million supported these positions.

Free Pre-K

Meet Megan, the mother of an NC Pre-K student. Thanks to lottery funds, her daughter Nellie was welcomed into a preschool program at no cost. More than 11,600 four-year-olds experienced the same opportunity last year.

Scholarships

Meet Ella, a student pursuing her dream of becoming a family therapist. The lottery helps make college more affordable for North Carolinians through the new Next NC Scholarship, supporting more than 136,000 scholarship awards last year.

Winning for Education

Discover how the $1 billion raised by the lottery last year plays a positive role across North Carolina.

Winning for Local Economies

Did you know $.96 of every dollar spent on a lottery ticket comes back to the state in the form of prizes, retail commissions and earnings for education?

Community Sponsorship & Events

Check out our many community, sport and collegiate sponsorships and events across the state.

Winning Responsibly

We are consciously involved in our communities in a variety of ways. From volunteering to encouraging responsible play, the lottery is accountable to its many stakeholders.

Recent All Posts ›

March 27, 2026

February 24, 2026

November 25, 2025

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