Nov. 5, 2013. A group of five holiday-themed instant scratch-off games go on sale Tuesday including a game that gives players three chances to win a $1 million prize. The new games are Holiday Gold, Jingle Big Ol’ Bucks, Mistletoe Bingo, Winner Green and Holiday Cash.
While supplies last, customers who make a lottery purchase of $3 or more will also receive a holiday-themed greeting cards designed to hold multiple tickets inside from the retailer.
“Even though they make fun gifts and stocking stuffers, lottery tickets should only be played by adults,” said Alice Garland, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “If you purchase tickets as gifts this holiday season, please give responsibly by making sure that the recipient is 18 years of age or older.”
This year, the N.C. Education Lottery is once again supporting the Holiday Campaign of the National Council on Problem Gambling and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behavior at McGill University. For more information on the NCPG and the campaign, visit www.ncpgambling.org/holiday.
Here’s a description of this year’s holiday games:
· Holiday Gold is a $10 game featuring three top prizes of $1 million. The game begins with more than $13 million in total prizes. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 600,000. Approximate overall odds of winning including break-even prizes are 1 in 3.37.
· Jingle Big Ol’ Bucks, a popular $5 game, returns with four top prizes of $100,000 and more than $9.4 million in total prizes. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 690,000. Approximate overall odds of winning including break-even prizes are 1 in 3.98.
· Mistletoe Bingo is a new holiday-themed $3 extended-play bingo style game. It starts with three $50,000 top prizes and more than $3.6 million in total prizes. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 640,000.Approximate overall odds of winning including break-even prizes are 1 in 4.26.
· Winner Green, a $2 game, features four top prizes of $20,000 and more than $4.2 million in total prizes. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 840,000. Approximate overall odds of winning including break-even prizes are 1 in 4.71.
· Holiday Cash, a $1 game, begins with 35 top prizes of $1,000 and more than $2.6 million in total prizes. Odds of winning a top prize are 1 in 130,285. Approximate overall odds of winning including breakeven prizes are 1 in 4.72.
# # #
North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds are used for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds,
reduction of class size in early grades, school construction, need-based college scholarships and digital learning initiatives.
For prizes of $5,000 and greater, 25% federal tax and 7% state tax are automatically withheld.