Tar Heel state outsells S.C.; an N.C. ticket holder wins $200,000
North Carolina's lottery won its first head-to-head showdown with South Carolina's game this week. The Tar Heel state collected more than three times the cash in ticket sales than its southern neighbor during the run up to the first Powerball drawing involving both states.
An N.C. lottery ticket holder also won big. Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in North Carolina won $200,000 in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, N.C. Education Lottery officials said Thursday.
Lottery retailers in North Carolina sold $3.1 million in tickets between the time the state started offering Powerball tickets on Tuesday and Powerball's drawing Wednesday evening — collecting more money than any other state, lottery officials said Thursday. South Carolina buyers purchased $930,000 in tickets.
S.C. Education Lottery director Ernie Passailaigue noted North Carolina has more potential ticket buyers. (North Carolina has about 8.6 million residents while South Carolina's population is about 4.2 million, according to 2004 census estimates.)
But Passailaigue said he believes North Carolina's Powerball offering took away some typical S.C. ticket buyers.
"It seemed like to me, the draw was a little light compared to other draws," he said.
Players in the Carolinas and 27 other states were vying for a $38 million jackpot.
In Powerball, players select five numbers (picked with white balls) and a Powerball number (a red ball). To win the jackpot, the player's ticket must have all six numbers. A $200,000 prize goes to anyone who has all five white numbers but not the red Powerball number. Prizes also go to ticket-holders who have fewer than five white numbers.
No one won the top prize in Wednesday's drawing, but a player who bought a ticket at a Wilco gas station in Aberdeen matched five of the six numbers picked in the drawing. The $200,000 winner had not staked a claim on the prize by Thursday afternoon, lottery official said.
That made the purchaser the biggest prize winner since North Carolina launched a state lottery with scratch-off games two months ago.
Powerball officials are guessing the game's top prize will reach $48 million before the next drawing on Saturday.
Lottery Party
North Carolina's lottery will have a booth in the food court at Concord Mills on today and Saturday.
The lottery will give away promotional prizes and give mall goers the chance to buy tickets. A state lottery spokeswoman will be at the booth between noon and 3 p.m. today.
That is good news. SC will lose more NC players when pick 3/4 and other numbers games come but there will always be those die hards who will play both and SC have better payoffs on their scratch offs.
The lastest is that numbers games are scheduled for this fall.
I ventured across the state line last night (but not for lottery tickets). Three of the SC state line lottery vendors were closed earlier than usual, one of which I know used to be open all night.
I usually play my pick 3 and pick 4 numbers at the Lottery Super Center, which is about 15 minutes from where I live in charlotte. When I went earlier this week it was so empty. I actually had a place to sit and fill out my play slip. I can't wait until they start pick 3, pick 4, and pick 5 games. I don't think I can wait until this fall. I NEED IT NOW!
That is good news. SC will lose more NC players when pick 3/4 and other numbers games come but there will always be those die hards who will play both and SC have better payoffs on their scratch offs.
The lastest is that numbers games are scheduled for this fall.
Let's see what the payouts will be on North Carolina's pick-3 and pick-4. Don't be surprised if NC uses pari-mutuel prizes on P3 and P4, perhaps to disguise lower payouts.
NC got a million dollar winner in last nights Powerball lottery.Someone won the second prize and played the PowerPlay option for a cool million.,before taxes of course.
The lastest is that numbers games are scheduled for this fall.
I ventured across the state line last night (but not for lottery tickets). Three of the SC state line lottery vendors were closed earlier than usual, one of which I know used to be open all night.
I usually play my pick 3 and pick 4 numbers at the Lottery Super Center, which is about 15 minutes from where I live in charlotte. When I went earlier this week it was so empty. I actually had a place to sit and fill out my play slip. I can't wait until they start pick 3, pick 4, and pick 5 games. I don't think I can wait until this fall. I NEED IT NOW!
The lastest is that numbers games are scheduled for this fall.
Let's see what the payouts will be on North Carolina's pick-3 and pick-4. Don't be surprised if NC uses pari-mutuel prizes on P3 and P4, perhaps to disguise lower payouts.
Congrats to the Good start in Nc everyone and congrats to the 2nd prize winner ! FEEL THE FEVER NOW? !!!!!!!
North Carolina will always have more winners than South Carolina. Even after the novelty wears off.
NC got a million dollar winner in last nights Powerball lottery.Someone won the second prize and played the PowerPlay option for a cool million.,before taxes of course.