North Carolina is the latest to act on growing trend of progressive jackpot lottery games
By Kate Northrop
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina lottery players can try out the state lottery's newest offering — Fast Play, a type of lottery game with a progressive jackpot that has become popular with other state lotteries in recent years.
Fast Play was first available for purchase on Sun., Sept. 13, 2020 at most N.C. Lottery retailers and on all self-service vending machines, marking the Lottery's first game launch in three years.
Players can try out six new Fast Play games with different themes and play-styles. The price of the ticket determines the top percentage of the jackpot that a player can win. For example, the top prize for a $2 lottery ticket is 20% of the current jackpot at the time of purchase, while players who buy a $5 or $10 ticket can win a top prize of 50% or 100% of the jackpot, respectively. The six Fast Play games available for purchase are:
- $2 Lucky Clover
- $2 Classic Bingo
- $5 Rockin' Bingo
- $2, $5, and $10 Jackpot 7's games
Players can learn more about the individual games on the Lottery's official website.
After buying a Fast Play ticket, players will see what the jackpot was at the time of purchase and will instantly know if they won the jackpot or lesser prize by looking directly on the ticket. The rolling jackpot starts at $20,000 and grows each time a player purchases a ticket until it is won.
"If a jackpot-winning ticket is sold, the jackpot will decrease immediately," the Lottery said. "If the winner doesn't claim their prize, half of that unclaimed money goes back into games in the form of prizes, and the other half benefits education."
According to the Lottery, winning tickets for draw games must be redeemed within 180 days of the drawing for which the ticket was purchased.
The progressive jackpot is updated live each time someone plays. It can be viewed on the home page of the official N.C. Lottery website and on the N.C. Lottery Mobile App. Lottery retailers also display the current jackpot on Fast Play jackpot signs as well as multi-media monitors and vending machines in stores.
Since the release of the games, players have mixed feelings about Fast Play, but those who enjoy the simplicity and speed of the game seem to particularly like it.
"I am loving this game," a player identified as "Denver G." said. "Best odds of anything out there to win $100k or more. I am sticking with the $10 tickets. I am averaging about 50/50 on wins. Most on 1 ticket has been $25. Try the vending machines, if you can't figure it out you have no one to blame but yourself. Easy, easy, easy!"
Other players have voiced concerns about the game's security and play experience, citing some shortcomings to do with retailer training and confidentiality.
"So what if I go into a gas station and purchase a $10 Fast Play from the cashier and he looks at it before handing it to me and tells me it's not a winner?" a player under the name "Thom B." asked. "Do I still have to pay for it? This happened and I just walked out. Please train these cashiers not to do that."
Another player known as "Angela A." had a similar encounter. "I did try another Fast Play ticket today and before the clerk handed it to me I was told 'Oh you won $2.' That is just great! I am not one of those players who just scan the bar code on scratch offs either. I pay and play the game. I know especially since COVID-19 there are stores that you cannot see the terminal. I think NCEL will have to keep a close eye on this."
"That is certainly not the playing experience we want you to have," the Lottery responded.
The Lottery responded to concerns regarding negative player experiences and is actively monitoring the game's reception, emphasizing that there will be a learning curve anytime a new game or product is released.
"Fast Play tickets are printed only when a customer asks for one," the Lottery explained. "In most stores where lottery tickets are sold, you should be able to see the ticket being printed from the lottery terminal. The retailer should hand the ticket immediately to you. You can then check the date and time printed on every ticket. We have checks and balances in place to ensure the security of our games, including our new Fast Play games."
The N.C. Lottery strongly encouraged players to report suspicious retailer behavior to their Security Division at 888-732-6235.
At the time of this writing, the current estimated jackpot sits at a hefty $201,175 and will continue to change with each ticket purchased. Players who enjoy the new Fast Play games may also be happy to hear that the Lottery has plans on releasing more Fast Play games in the future.
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Progressive games, hmmm, didn't other states stop (halt) them...I must do my research on this matter. Good luck to all.
What a terrible game.
It is very easy for a retailer to cheat a customer.
That is a flat out lie. Retailers cannot cheat the customer. It is all RNG, you either tell the clerk what denomination you want or go to the lottery machine and depress what you want and it prints. No human intervention, you can't pick your own #'s. I will say one thing it eats up a lot of paper.
You do not understand how the game works. These are instant draw tickets. If the ticket is a winning ticket, the retailer can choose to keep the ticket and print a new ticket for the customer.
Oh yes I do understand this game...we've had them in KY for about a year now and have played. The retailer would have to scan the printed ticket right in front of the customer and if they printed a new one the customer if they're paying attention would notice it. So don't preach to the choir, like I said I've played this RNG (instant) game before. Personally though I don't like it so stopped. Our fraud squad isn't as active as say California's, but we do have one just the same. So if it gets reported suspicious activity going on, they bring fake tickets to have scanned and so on and so forth.
The retailer does not have to scan the ticket to determine it is a winner.
This game is a huge mistake and not fair to the player. The player may not understand how easy it is for a retailer to cheat them.
When you come visit me in Kentucky from CANADA I'll prove to you how wrong you are on all counts.
The new game is offered in North Carolina. Why would I travel to Kentucky?
the new game ahh NC has thought of another way to get money from lottery players.. as of the cheating I think terminals are set up to much for that to happen you the customer would have to see the cashier print two tickets instead of one so pay attention. 90% of the terminals here are set up where the customer can see the ticket being printed out but we do or have had a lot of cheating here in the past the monitors that NC installed have pretty much eliminated that concern for players. Personally I spent $25 on fast play games and won $4 or $5 back I think its just a fast way to lose money but I'm sure they will come out with some feel good story to hype it up soon enough. Fast play is not any different than scratch cards if you think about it so it just comes down to players choice do you want the excitement of matching scratch card numbers and uncovering a prize or do you want to skim over a ticket and loss lol .
Thank you PC for your input and insight. The $10 ticket has the best odds but still not favorable. P.S. PC, Love your work and your books, thank you.
I appreciate that and welcome to LP
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