Overview of North Carolina Lottery Results & Games

North Carolina may have one of the youngest lotto systems in the US, but this isn’t to say that it doesn’t offer some great gaming options. In fact, with online ticket sales available through the North Carolina Lottery website, the NC lotto is also one of the most modern systems in the country.

The North Carolina Education Lottery, as it is formally known, was controversially introduced in 2005. As you’ll learn below, the state lottery was passed by the narrowest margin and plenty of opposition. In time, though, many locals have come round to seeing the benefits of the games to the state’s budget.

On this North Carolina Lottery guide, you’ll find all you need to know about the state’s lotto offerings. We’ve started by explaining the kinds of games you can play, before providing an up-to-date draw games schedule so you can never miss out on a live draw again.

We’ve continued by explaining popular draw games in the state, from the immensely popular Powerball national game to the local-only favourite Cash 5. We’ve then discussed a number of important laws that players should be aware of before buying a ticket.

The Various North Carolina Lottery Games are Available

There are two main types of games available to players of the North Carolina Lottery. Amongst some of the best North Carolina lottery games include popular national draw games such as the Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky for Life. These games tend to offer huge prizes, though the odds are smaller.

The other type of lotto games are scratch cards. Scratch cards are a instant lottery games that requires players to scratch off winning combinations on special store-bought lottery cards. These range in different prices and offer a huge variety of prizes that can include cash, gifts, or getaway vacations.

Draw Games: NC Lottos with Huge Jackpots

If you’ve heard of the Mega Millions and Powerball games, you’re familiar with draw games. As the most popular lottery option in the country, draw games require participants to select a set of numbers. At a later date, a random set of numbers are drawn, and the more numbers you match, the higher the prize.

Although these games can offer huge progressive jackpots that have built higher than $1 billion, the odds of winning these games are usually very small. Thankfully, there are a number of local NC lotto games that are drawn more frequently, giving players a much higher chance to win.

As the table above shows, there are always lottery games to play in North Carolina. The three national games are only drawn twice a week, but this tends to be enough for prizes to build. Local games are often drawn daily, with some varieties being drawn on multiple occasions every day.

Below, we’ve provided explanations for the five games listed in the schedule. We’ve discussed everything from how to play, the price of tickets, the highest prize tiers, and the odds of winning. Be sure to keep reading if you’d like to learn which games give you the best shot at winning.

Mega Millions: Jackpot Starts at $40 Million

Offered in 45 states across the USA, the Mega Millions gives players a shot at winning a huge progressive jackpot twice a week. The top prize starts at $40 million and builds quickly from there. To play, players must select five numbers between 1 and 70, and one Mega Ball between 1 and 25.

Tickets cost $2 to play, and there is also an additional $1 Megaplier option that can multiply the lower 8 prize tiers if you match the numbers correctly. As the table shows, the odds of winning the jackpot are incredibly small, though this doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Powerball: The Powerball Can Change It All

The Powerball, like the Mega Millions, is played in 45 states. Jackpots also start at $40 million, and the top prize can grow to a massive life-changing figure. To play, participants must select 5 numbers between 1 and 69 in addition to a Powerball number between 1 and 26.

Tickets cost $1 to play, with an additional $1 multiplier also available to players. The Powerball offers a similar prize structure to the Mega MIllions, though you’ll notice that the odds of hitting the jackpot are slightly higher. Yes, it’s still unlikely, but it’s certainly worth considering before making your next pick.

Lucky for Life: The Game of a Lifetime

Lucky for Life has grown in popularity quickly and is currently available in 25 states. The promise of its jackpot prize is likely what draws the crowd in, with the top offering being $1,000 a day, every day for the rest of your life. Who could resist that?

The game is similar to the Cash 4 Life game offered in New York, though the odds are slightly worse and New York’s game offers $1,000 a week for the rest of the runner-up’s life. Tickets cost $2 per play, and games are drawn every day.

Pick 4: Win Every Day, Twice a Day

The North Carolina Pick 4 game gives players the chance to win $5,000 in two daily drawings. First, players must select four numbers from 0 to 9, then choose how many times they want to play and the play style. There are many different ways to win based on which combinations land.

For example, an Exact game means that selected numbers must match the drawn numbers in the correct order. Any Order means selected numbers must be drawn but can be drawn in any order. Games can be played for either 50c or $1, with the below prizes listed for $1 bets.

Cash 5: A Daily Chance to Win

Cash 5 is a local draw game that is played once a day. In order to play, players must select five numbers from 1 to 43. Each ticket costs $1, though a special EZ Match game can also be played for an additional $1. Like usual draw games, the aim is to match selected numbers to drawn numbers.

EZ Match provides a ticket with five random numbers at the time of purchase that, if matching with your chosen Cash 5 numbers, awards $500 instantly. The jackpot prize for Cash 5 depends on how many players participate but promises to be higher than $100,000.

N.C.Lottery Scratchers with Best Odds

There is an ever-rotating offering of scratchers available in North Carolina, many of which offer a unique gaming experience. Tickets can be bought from as little as $1 and for as high as $30, with jackpot prizes sometimes as high as $10,000,000.

Below, we’ve listed five of the best North Carolina lottery scratch games of varying prices and listed the overall odds of winning any prize on a scratch ticket. Keep in mind that scratchers tend to offer many prize tiers, so the odds of winning something can be quite high.

1. $1 Fast Bucks (Odds: 1 out of 4.9)
2. $5 Emerald Green 8s (Odds: 1 out of 4.06)
3. $10 50X the Cash (Odds: 1 out of 3.30)
4. $20 Game Name (Odds: 1 out of 3.06)
5. $30 $300,000,000 Supreme Riches (Odds: 1 out of 2.90)

As you can see, the more money payers spend on tickets, the higher the odds are for winning any prize. This is likely because these higher-priced tickets often offer a more generous array of prize tiers. We recommend that before you buy a scratcher, do your research on what scratcher tickets still have their jackpots unclaimed. To err on the side of caution, choose newly released games.

Other North Carolina Lottery Games

In addition to draw games and scratchers, the North Carolina Lottery also operates the fast-paced Keno game. Keno games are drawn every 4 minutes. To play, select how many numbers you wish to play and how many you wish to match out of 80 numbers. 20 numbers will then be drawn.

Each play costs $1, with multipliers selected with every dollar spent up to $10. Keno operates on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning that the size of prizes accumulates based on how many people are playing. With more than 300 games drawn daily, Keno offers plenty of chances to win.

While there are no unique online games that can be played, participants are able to buy tickets for draw games online through the official North Carolina Education Lottery website or phone app. Through these online portals, players can scan old lottery tickets to earn points and buy entries into special Lucke-Rewards drawings.

Important Laws Regarding NC Lotteries

It’s worth remembering that every state has their own laws when it comes to the lottery and each is governed by their own regulatory bodies. Of course, all major prizes across the country are subject to tax rates of 24 percent, but there are additional details that states have mandated that should be considered.

For example, states such as Arizona and Louisiana require that players must be over the age of 21 to buy a lottery ticket, while players need to be over 18 to enjoy the lottery in North Carolina. Additionally, while lucky players in North Carolina must pay 5.5% on winnings above $600, Tennessee players only need to pay a 1 percent tax on these winnings.

North Carolina is one of many states that requires lottery winners to make their name public as well as their city of residence. In some states, winners are able to hide their information by creating a trust account, though NC lotto winners must still disclose beneficiaries of trusts when claiming.

Anonymity is likely to be sought after by anyone wanting to keep their privacy. Please be aware that North Carolina has strict requirements regarding anonymity of winners, so those wanting to remain private may need to reconsider their participation in the NC lotto before buying a ticket.

Overview of the North Carolina Lotto

It’s strange to think now, but did you know that the North Carolina Lotto was close to never existing? In 2005, the vote to pass the state lottery bill was cast when two opponents were absent. This resulted in a 24-24 stalemate. To break the tie, Lt. Governor Perdue voted in favor of the bill, and the North Carolina Lottery Act was passed.

The passing of the Act created a special 9-member commission to oversee the regulation of the lottery. It determined that all of the proceeds from the games would go toward education-related costs. For this reason, the lottery was then called the North Carolina Education Lottery.

Although the lottery’s introduction was initially controversial in the conservative state, North Carolina has grown to embrace the potential of its lottery. Every year, the games grow in popularity, and the state has raised more than $6.6 billion to fund education programs since 2006.

Conclusion

As one of the youngest states to join the American Lottery system, North Carolina provides a modern and rich lotto games offering that rivals the oldest in the country. In addition to popular national draw games, NC lotto players also have access to generous local-only games, Keno and scratchers.

In the future, we suggest you return to this guide for all your NC lotto questions. We regularly update the North Carolina winning numbers to ensure you have the latest news, and our schedules are always up-to-date to make sure you never miss a draw.

Common Questions that People Also Ask

Do you still have questions about the North Carolina lottery and how it works? Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers for you. Below, we’ve listed some common questions about the NC lotto and provided the most accurate responses so that you can play with peace of mind.