North Carolinians spend the equivalent of $1.50 per resident on first day and a half
Lottery players maintained a brisk, and somewhat unexpected, spending pace Friday as the games' first big winners came forward to collect jackpot prizes.
Officials were predicting a drop-off Friday from Thursday's steady sales as North Carolina joined 41 other states in sponsoring a lottery. But at 5:30 p.m. Friday — a payday for some — officials said players were spending at a clip close to the first day's pace.
Friday sales had topped $4.6 million by 5:30 p.m.
In all, the lottery sold more than $12.6 million in tickets in its first day and a half. That is about $1.50 for every person in the state. Profits will go to education programs statewide. Players collected $4.3 million in prizes.
"I'm real pleased with it all," said lottery director Tom Shaheen on Friday afternoon. "There have been a few glitches, but overall, it's been relatively smooth."
The lottery also paid its first big winners Friday from the four $1, $2 and $5 games now on shelves.
A Newton man claimed one of 10 prizes in the state worth $100,000, a ticket purchased in Conover, which is in Catawba County about 150 miles west of Raleigh.
After taxes, Richard Garland collected $68,001. He told lottery officials that he would buy a house with the money.
In Fayetteville, a Fort Bragg soldier bought a Carolina Cash ticket worth $10,000, before taxes, late Thursday.
Sgt. James Greene said he couldn't believe it when he scratched off the winning ticket while still in the BP store and then "saw 10 grand staring at me."
Married for six months, he said the money will pay off bills, buy a video game machine and get whatever his wife wants.
Another $10,000 winner was paid in Charlotte. And a $5,000 ticket was sold in Candler, in Buncombe County, to a man who said he would use the money to buy a drag race car. Another $5,000 winner was paid in Asheville later Friday.
Thousands of losing tickets are sold for each winner; to pay off Garland's $100,000 ticket, about 39,450 losing tickets will be sold.
Overall, about half of the money from sales is returned to players as prizes.
The lottery's closely watched first-day sales ended up at $8 million. That quadrupled early predictions.
Yeah here too guys!!!!Glad to see that ya all FINALLY get to feel the FEVER!!!!! HAHAHAHA Just remember to always be SMART about it and dont let it control u and THE MOST IMPORATANT THING OF ALL!!!!!!!!!! HAVE FUN AND WIN!!!!!
Unless you win a jackpot, you're paying to play. Winning a few bucks once in a while just lowers the payout!!!!
I play the BINGO scratchers up there...I like those the best. We don't have those down here in North Carolina yet...but I guess it's a matter of time.
I havent had any luck with them yet butb then again I have only played 3 or 4 of them. Right now the Texas Hold'em is OFF THE CHAIN!! There a blast to play if you enjoy the game Its awesome!!! Another one that is rockin in Blazin 8's and Sizzlin 7's If you get a chance to play them they are ALOT of fun to play. I like that they have Mulitple games gives you a variety ya know?
Then the Double It has been good to me latley and as well as Bank Roll So just some fun ones for ya to try!!
CONGRATS!!! ON finally getting in on the fever!!!!!!
I like the Double It in Ohio as well....guess next time I am up there (Apr. 21st) I will have to hop in the Meijer and get some of those that you are talking about.
Scratch-offs are about the only thing to do Boringfield, I mean, errrrrrr, Springfield...LOL
Almost at the end, it says that (only) half of money bet on scratch tickets is used to pay prizes. In NY the percentage on scratches is 65%.
Well, I DONT KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOURS IS PAID OUT BUT HERE IS OHIO'S LAST MONTH
Every month the Ohio Lottery awards millions of dollars in prizes to lucky players just like you. Below is a list of recent monthly payouts.
FEBRUARY 2006
Game
# of Winners
$ Paid to Winners
ROLLING CASH 5
471,057
$2,478,331
SUPER LOTTO
572
$11,226
LOT 'O PLAY
382,321
$1,268,392
PICK 3 NUMBERS
138,322
$26,771,428
PICK 4 NUMBERS
25,885
$8,929,599
KICKER
17,012
$552,850
MEGA MILLIONS
405,322
$2,634,788
ALL INSTANT GAMES
9,497,759
$74,340,732
TOTALS
10,938,250
$116,987,346
Contributions to the Lottery Profits Education Fund in the month of February totaled $50,023,000.
SOOOO as you can see the largest in payout in the state of Ohio is Scratch Off's INCUDING the number of winners.
I LOVE MY SCRATCH OFF'S AND AS YOU CAN SEE SO DO MOST OF THE OHIO RESIDENTS
I was referring to the payout percentage of NC scratch tickets, rather than comparing sales of scratch tickets to other games, which NC doesn't have yet.
good to see people enjoying the lottery in north carolina......
Yeah here too guys!!!!Glad to see that ya all FINALLY get to feel the FEVER!!!!!
HAHAHAHA Just remember to always be SMART about it and dont let it control u and THE MOST IMPORATANT THING OF ALL!!!!!!!!!! HAVE FUN AND WIN!!!!! 
Unless you win a jackpot, you're paying to play. Winning a few bucks once in a while just lowers the payout!!!!
Almost at the end, it says that (only) half of money bet on scratch tickets is used to pay prizes. In NY the percentage on scratches is 65%.
Almost at the end, it says that (only) half of money bet on scratch tickets is used to pay prizes. In NY the percentage on scratches is 65%.
Well, I DONT KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOURS IS PAID OUT BUT HERE IS OHIO'S LAST MONTH
Every month the Ohio Lottery awards millions of dollars in prizes to lucky players just like you. Below is a list of recent monthly payouts.
FEBRUARY 2006
# of Winners
10,938,250
Contributions to the Lottery Profits Education Fund in the month of February totaled $50,023,000.
SOOOO as you can see the largest in payout in the state of Ohio is Scratch Off's INCUDING the number of winners.
I LOVE MY SCRATCH OFF'S AND AS YOU CAN SEE SO DO MOST OF THE OHIO RESIDENTS
Sassy
I play the BINGO scratchers up there...I like those the best. We don't have those down here in North Carolina yet...but I guess it's a matter of time.
Sassy
I play the BINGO scratchers up there...I like those the best. We don't have those down here in North Carolina yet...but I guess it's a matter of time.
I havent had any luck with them yet butb then again I have only played 3 or 4 of them. Right now the Texas Hold'em is OFF THE CHAIN!! There a blast to play if you enjoy the game Its awesome!!! Another one that is rockin in Blazin 8's and Sizzlin 7's If you get a chance to play them they are ALOT of fun to play. I like that they have Mulitple games gives you a variety ya know?
Then the Double It has been good to me latley and as well as Bank Roll So just some fun ones for ya to try!!
CONGRATS!!! ON finally getting in on the fever!!!!!!
I like the Double It in Ohio as well....guess next time I am up there (Apr. 21st) I will have to hop in the Meijer and get some of those that you are talking about.
Scratch-offs are about the only thing to do Boringfield, I mean, errrrrrr, Springfield...LOL
Does anyone know where North Carolina is going to have Cash 3 and Cash drawings?
Does anyone know where North Carolina is going to have Cash 3 and Cash drawings?
Almost at the end, it says that (only) half of money bet on scratch tickets is used to pay prizes. In NY the percentage on scratches is 65%.
Well, I DONT KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOURS IS PAID OUT BUT HERE IS OHIO'S LAST MONTH
Every month the Ohio Lottery awards millions of dollars in prizes to lucky players just like you. Below is a list of recent monthly payouts.
FEBRUARY 2006
# of Winners
10,938,250
Contributions to the Lottery Profits Education Fund in the month of February totaled $50,023,000.
SOOOO as you can see the largest in payout in the state of Ohio is Scratch Off's INCUDING the number of winners.
I LOVE MY SCRATCH OFF'S AND AS YOU CAN SEE SO DO MOST OF THE OHIO RESIDENTS
I was referring to the payout percentage of NC scratch tickets, rather than comparing sales of scratch tickets to other games, which NC doesn't have yet.