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Largest Powerball Jackpot In History, $600M Is On The Line Saturday Night, Players Net $24.4M This Week

May 17, 2013. Across the state and nationwide, all eyes are on the Powerball jackpot. The jackpot increased on Friday, eclipsing the record $587.5 million annuity for the game set in November. Saturday’s jackpot is now estimated at $600 million if taken as an annuity or $376.9 million if taken as a lump sum.

lottery“It is exciting that a North Carolina player could win this record jackpot,” said Alice Garland, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Playing Powerball and other lottery games can be fun, but we remind everyone that it takes just one ticket to have a chance to win, and to please play responsibly.”

If no ticket matches all six numbers in the drawing, the jackpot would roll to the largest amount in U.S. History. The record was set in March of 2012 when the Mega Millions jackpot reached an annuity value of $656 million.

During the jackpot run which started on April 3, four North Carolina tickets have been one red Powerball away from hitting the jackpot. Each of the four tickets matched all five white balls in a drawing to win $1 million. Winners from Jacksonville and Winston-Salem have collected their winnings, leaving two tickets unclaimed. They were sold at the Ingles Market on Leicester Highway in Asheville for the May 11 drawing and at the Oakhill Deli & Grill on Oakdale Road in Charlotte for the May 15 drawing.

Since the game started here in 2006, three North Carolina Powerball players have won the jackpot. Jackie Alston of Halifax won $74.5 million in November 2006, Jeff Wilson of Kings Mountain won $88.1 million in June 2009 and Frank Griffin of Asheville won $141.4 million in February 2010.

Mega Millions players on Friday night have the chance to win the game’s largest jackpot of 2013. It is estimated at $190 million if taken as an annuity or $140.9 million if taken as a lump sum.

This Week’s Prize Totals

In Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing, 17,918 tickets won prizes ranging from $2 to $10,000, totaling $151,464. In the Friday, May 10 drawing, 17,059 tickets won $360,049 in prizes ranging from $2 to $250,000.

The Saturday, May 11 Powerball drawing produced 37,893 winning tickets ranging from $4 to $1 million, totaling $2,280,150. The Wednesday, May 15 drawing produced 71,856 winning tickets with prizes from $4 to $1 million for a total of $1,493,406. 

Since Thursday, May 9, players of N.C. Education Lottery games won more than $24.4 million in prizes with more than $14 million awarded to winners of instant scratch-off games. Players of draw games won more than $10.3 million in total prizes.

Big Winner Report

Hospital housekeeper wins $1 million playing Powerball

Paula Lampkins of Winston-Salem won in Saturday’s Powerball drawing. She purchased her winning ticket at Sheetz #411 located N.C. 150 North in Winston-Salem.

Greensboro man to purchase home with $250,000 Mega Millions win

Devlien Bullock of Greensboro plans to use the $250,000 prize he won playing Mega Millions to purchase a new home for his family.

Moore County man unknowingly kept lucky Cash 5 ticket for two months

A ticket worth $236,455 sat unclaimed in Ed Studebaker’s West End home for nearly two months before he realized he’d won the March 14 jackpot.

Indiana man wins $150,000 lottery prize while visiting North Carolina

“This is what you always dream about and it never happens,” Rex Roth said. “But this time it did.” The retired school superintendent won the $150,000 top prize in the 10X the Payout game. 

Hope Mills man to grow business with $100,000 MONOPOLY prize“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” Gerry Davis said as he held his check for the first time. “I’ve seen some big checks in my lifetime, but never one with my name on it.”

Greensboro man plays MONOPOLY, lands on $100,000 prizeBruce Battle claimed the second of two $100,000 prizes awarded this week for wins in the $5 MONOPOLY scratch-off game. 

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