The N.C. Education Lottery set new sales records as it started a new fiscal year, selling the most lottery tickets ever in a quarter and in a month.
Lottery ticket sales for the first quarter of fiscal year 2016 were $520.5 million, $44.8 million more than the previous record which was set during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014. Sales for the month of September hit $192.8 million, up $6.8 million from the previous monthly sales record which was set in March.
“Our effort to continue the success of the lottery in raising money for education is off to a strong start,” said Alice Garland, the lottery’s executive director. “Thanks to the support of North Carolinians who enjoy playing our games, we’ve increased sales and money raised for the state every year since the lottery started nearly 10 years ago.”
This year, the lottery expects to exceed $2 billion in lottery ticket sales and to raise $528 million for education programs in the state.
Draw Game Report
The Powerball jackpot for Saturday’s drawing is estimated $40 million if taken as an annuity or $25.4 million if taken as a lump sum. Wednesday’s $310 million jackpot was won on a ticket purchased in Michigan.
Four players claimed big prizes in the Powerball game this week:
- Willow Spring resident Robert Allen won $30,000. (Sept. 12)
- Asheville resident Duston Dry won $10,000. (Sept. 19)
- Cherryville resident Thomas Anthony won $10,000. (Sept. 30)
- Winnabow resident Diane Pennellatore won $10,000. (Sept. 16)
Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is $47 million if taken as an annuity or $29.5 million if taken as a lump sum.
Elizabeth City resident Michelle Mercer claimed the $15,000 prize she won in the Sept. 29 Mega Millions drawing on Thursday.
Big Winner Report
Hector Guerra of Charlotte is the latest player to win a $1 million prize in the 100X The Cash game. He purchased the lucky $20 ticket at the Royal Stop Citgo on Eastway Drive in Charlotte. {Read More}
Fayetteville resident Michael Jones is one of two players that matched all five numbers in Wednesday’s Cash 5 drawing to win half of the $937,346 jackpot.
“Honestly, I still don’t believe it,” said Jones of his $468,673 win. “This feels amazing.” After taxes were withheld, he received a check for $324,556. {Read More}
The second winning ticket from the Sept. 30 drawing, which has not yet been claimed, was sold at Mountain Energy on Hendersonville Road in Arden.
Instant Winner Report
Two players won $50,000 this week:
- Ayden resident Preston Sutton, Jumbo Bucks
- Raleigh resident Mulugheta Ambaye, 50X The Cash
Fathi Awadallah of Rocky Mount won $30,000 playing Did I Win? and Genaro Villa of Browns Summit won $25,000 playing Emerald 7’s.
Ten players scratched their way to instant prizes of $10,000. They are:
- Cherryville resident Jessica Wiley, $5,000 a Week for Life!
- Climax resident Vicki Hart, Jumbo Bucks
- Concord resident Greg Purkey, 100X The Cash
- Marshville resident Amanda Austin, 100X The Cash
- Mount Holly resident Eveline Ervin, 100X The Cash
- Raleigh residents William Black and Patsy Cook, $4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular
- Rocky Mount resident Cullette Harvin, 100X the Cash
- Southport resident Alfonso Villanneva, Millionaire 7’s
- Sparta resident Johnny Williams, $4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular
Since Sept. 24, instant players won $22.1 million and draw game players won $5.6 million, including $4.9 million from North Carolina draw games Pick 3, Pick 4, Cash 5 and All or Nothing. Mega Millions and Powerball players won $740,987 in prizes. Overall, players won $27.7 million, an average of $3.9 million per day.
Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state annually.
For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.
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