Download the Annual Report For 2009 for The North Carolina Lottery - CLICK HERE

In August 2005, Gov. Mike Easley signed into law the North Carolina State Lottery Act (H. 1023) and the 2005 Appropriations Act (S. 622) which enacted the North Carolina Education Lottery. View Legislation (PDF).
The act created the 9-member North Carolina Lottery Commission to initiate, supervise, and administer the education lottery. The Commission was appointed in September 2005, with Dr. Charles Sanders of Durham as its first chair and its initial meeting was held on October 6, 2005. View Press Release. The Commission will appoint and provide for the compensation of an executive director who may hire other staff and who will be responsible for the administrative management and daily operations of the Commission.
100 percent of the net proceeds of the North Carolina Education Lottery will go to education expenses, including reduced class size in early grades, academic prekindergarten programs, school construction, and scholarships for needy college and university students.

Lottery Director Stepping Down
RALEIGH, North Carolina (August 16, 2010) - Tom Shaheen - the N.C. Education Lottery executive director who oversaw the beginning of the state lottery - said Monday he's stepping down....................Subscribers

Lottery's Debt Program Collects a Record $1 Million During the Past Year From Prize Winners
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 22, 2010) - The NC Lottery collected a record $1 million during the past year from prize winners who were also debtors............Subscribers

N.C. Education Lottery Receives National Finance Award
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 22, 2010) -The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has received a second national award for excellence in financial reporting...........Subscribers

Governor Signs Electronic Sweepstakes Legislation, Ban Is Now Law
NORTH CAROLINA, USA (July 20, 2010) - The electronics sweepstakes ban is now law.According to the newspaper the bill outlawing Internet sweepstakes and other forms of electronic machine games of chance beginning December 1 was signed into law.......Subscribers

Education Lottery Achieves Four Consecutive Years of Record Sales
Makes Largest Contribution to State Education Lottery Fund
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 19, 2010) - The N.C. Education Lottery saw its overall ticket sales jump 9.9 percent in fiscal year 2010 as it recorded its fourth consecutive year of record ticket sales and earnings for education in North Carolina.......Subscribers

Education Lottery Player Excels in World Series of Poker® Main Event
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 16, 2010) -- Raeford resident Richard Taylor had no idea that his entry into the NCEL’s 2009 World Series of Poker® second chance drawing would actually win him a seat at the 2010 tournament.........Subscribers

Third Former Retailer Employee Charged In Lottery Theft Scheme
WASHINGTON, NC (July 16, 2010) - Another former employee of a Halifax County business is accused of lottery theft.................Subscribers

Former-Lottery Commissioner to Get Fine Refunded
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 12, 2010) — Local news reports a former North Carolina Lottery commissioner .......Subscribers

Bill Banning Sweepstakes Games Costly, Has Immediate Effect
BURLINGTON, North Carolina (July 8, 2010) - The decision by the North Carolina General Assembly to pass a bill banning Internet sweepstakes businesses from operating in the state is reportedly already having a significant affect on business venues..............Subscribers

Education Lottery Again Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 30, 20100 - For the second year in a row, the North Carolina Education Lottery has received recognition for producing a comprehensive financial report that provides full disclosure of the lottery’s financial picture to the public......................Subscribers

Former NC Lottery Official Ordered Released
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 30, 2010) – Report a judge has ordered a former North Carolina Lottery commissioner convicted in 2006 on five counts of the honest services law to be released from prison..........Subscribers

Pokertek Launches New Software That Revolutionizes Live Multi-Table Tournaments
MATTHEWS, North Carolina (June 28, 2010) -- PokerTek, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTEK), announced today the release of its latest PokerPro software, version 3.0, which offers a significantly enhanced tournament experience for players and operators.........Subscribers

Lottery Hits FY 2010 Goal of $419 Million for Education
Transfer Means Total Education Dollars Surpass $1.556 Billion
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 28, 2010) -- The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) transferred today more than $86.2 million to the State Education Lottery Fund. The transfer brings the tally for the fiscal year to $419.5 million, exceeding the goal set for fiscal year 2010. This most recent transfer is for April, May, and part of June.......Subscribers

Business Owners Say Gaming Ban Is Misguided
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 23, 2010) -  Hendersonville City leaders agree with a state Senate bill that bans electronic sweepstakes machines, while business owners feel abused.........Subscribers

Education Lottery To Launch New Raffle -Tickets for “Cash Splash Millionaire Raffle” Go On Sale July 2
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 25, 2010) - A raffle game soon to be offered by the N.C. Education Lottery, the “Cash Splash Millionaire Raffle,” will guarantee that players who win one of three $1 million top prizes will take home $1 million.........Subscribers

Former NC Lottery Official Seeks Overturn of 2006 Conviction, Immediate Release From Prison
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 25, 2010)  -- It was reported today that a former North Carolina lottery commissioner sentenced to prison in 2007 wants his conviction overturned. Kevin Geddings was convicted in 2006 on five counts of mail fraud for hiding his financial ties to a company that was expected to bid for the state's lottery business......Subscribers

Senate Votes to Ban "Sweepstakes" Games
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 21, 2010) – According to local media reports the North Carolina Senate, by a vote of 47-1, continued its long history of opposing video gambling, this time through electronic and computer-based devices springing up..............Subscribers

Two New Instant Games Headed to Stores
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 14, 2010) -- The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is introducing two new instant scratch-off games, “Silver 7”s” and “Lucky Cash Crossword.” The new games will be in stores...........Subscribers

Lottery Offers Players Chance To Be An Official NASCAR® Race Starter
CONCORD, North Carolina (May 19, 2010) - Two lucky people will get the chance to wave the green flag or say the most famous words in racing, “Drivers, Start Your Engines,” on Friday as an honorary starter and grand marshal at the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.......................Subscribers

Sweepstakes Cafés Could Net North Carolina Millions if Taxed
RALEIGH, North Carolina (May 12, 2010) –A Local station reports some lawmakers are weighing their options for closing a budget deficit of nearly $800 million, by exploring taxing the wave of gaming venues that have opened statewide in recent months.......................Subscribers

Lottery Transfers $112 Million to Education Fund
RALEIGH, North Carolina  (April 23, 2010) - Today, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) transferred more than $112 million to the State Education Lottery Fund. This transfer brings the overall tally of funds that the NCEL has generated for the education fund to $1.469 billion....................Subscribers

Board of Commissioners Expected to Increase Taxes on Sweepstakes Gaming Operators
HAVELOCK, North Carolina (April 22, 2010) - There is approximately ten (10) businesses operating an estimated 96 Internet sweepstakes machines in Havelock............Subscribers

Video Sweepstakes Case Going To Court
MORGANTON, North Carolina (April 18, 2010) -- It was reported today that a Superior Court judge on Monday will hear a complaint filed against local law enforcement officers, the district attorney and the state of North Carolina....................Subscribers

Man Facing Several Charges, Including Trying to Steal 2,600 Lottery Tickets
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (April 13, 2010) – Local news station reports Police say a man threw a rock through a convenience store window Monday night, crawled inside and then stole lottery tickets and cigarettes......................Subscribers

First Fully Automated Lottery Machine Arrives In North Carolina
KINSTON, North Carolina (March 31, 2010) -- ENC Today reported the first “Lottery to Go” automated lottery machine in the state came to Kinston on Tuesday. The website said the Kinston-based Realo Discount Drugs chain, which operates 14 stores throughout Eastern North Carolina, is the first retailer in North Carolina to receive the Lottery to Go machine..................Subscribers

Lottery Issues Warning to Retailers About Video Gaming Devices
ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina (March 23, 2010) – A Local station reported that the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has sent warning letters to retailers who operate video gaming devices........................Subscribers

Winning Ticket For $141.4 Million Powerball Purchased in North Carolina
NORTH CAROLINA (February 7, 2010) -- Someone is going to have millions of reasons to celebrate soon. There was only one Powerball jackpot winning ticket sold in Saturday night's Powerball drawing and it was sold in North Carolina! The ticket that matched all five white balls and the Powerball is worth $141.4 million....................Subscribers

Lottery Transfers Over $105 Million to Education Fund
RALEIGH, North Carolina (January 26, 2010) - Today, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) transferred over $105 million to the State Education Lottery Fund. This transfer brings the overall tally of funds that the NCEL has generated for the education fund to over $1.35 billion......................Subscribers

Education Lottery Introducing Special Edition of The Price is Right® Game
Two Other Instant Games Also Headed to Stores
RALEIGH, North Carolina (January 25, 2010) - Players may get a chance to “come on down” and win a trip to Las Vegas with the new North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) Special Edition The Price is Right® instant scratch-off game. The NCEL is introducing this new game along with two other new games - Triple Lucky Diamonds and Double Doubler. The three games will be in stores starting Tuesday, Jan. 26...............Subscribers

NC Lottery Brings Back ‘Cash Spectacular’ Today
RALEIGH, North Carolina (January 12, 2010) -The North Carolina Education Lottery has brought back the popular Cash Spectacular instant scratch off game, but this version has even more prizes than before..................Subscribers

Lottery Sales Driven by a Regular and Frequent Customer Base - The News and Observer
Lottery Says the Aim is Not to Reach Hard-Core Players
RALEIGH, North Carolina (January 4, 2010) - C Mini Mart, the state's second-highest grossing store, sold $1.4 million of lottery tickets last year, and it's clear that the sales are driven by a regular and frequent customer base.......................Subscribers

Two New Instant Games Headed to Stores
RALEIGH, North Carolina (December 28, 2009) -- The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is introducing two new instant scratch-off games that are loaded with prizes. Bedazzled 7s and Be My Valentine will be in stores starting Tuesday, Dec. 29..................Subscribers

Lottery Commission Set to Negotiate Contract with New Ad Agency
RALEIGH, North Carolina (December 16, 2009) -- Local news sources have reported that the North Carolina Education Lottery Commission on Wednesday agreed to seek a new advertising agency after a High Point-based ad firm offered a deal that lottery officials say would save the lottery $360,000 over the next three years...................Subscribers

NC Lottery Agrees to Remunerate Retailers with Up to $50,000 for Selling Winning Lottery Tickets
RALEIGH, North Carolina (December 16, 2009) – According to numerous local media reports the North Carolina Education Lottery Commission voted Wednesday to give the lottery’s 6,100 retailers bonuses of up to $50,000 when they sell the top winning tickets for a pair of twice-weekly multistate numbers games...................Subscribers

Catchy Ads Boost Lottery Sales
RALEIGH, North Carolina (December 4, 2009) – According to local media reports players invested $1.293 billion on the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) during fiscal year 2008-09, which ended June 30....................Subscribers

Game On! Super Monopoly Along With Two More New Games Headed to NC Stores
RALEIGH, North Carolina (November 30, 2009) - It’s not Monopoly™. It’s Super Monopoly™. The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is introducing the nostalgia inspiring game with a special new feature along with two other instant scratch-off games....................Subscribers

Lottery's $11 Million Advertising Spend Paying Dividends
RALEIGH, North Carolina (November 28, 2009) – it was reported today that in the last fiscal year the state lottery spent $10.9 million on advertising....................Subscribers

NC Education Lottery’s 2008-2009 Beneficiary Brochure Now Available
County-by-County Data Provides Details on Where the Money Goes
RALEIGH, North Carolina  (November 13, 2009) - The North Carolina Education Lottery’s (NCEL’s) 2008-2009 beneficiary brochure is now available online at www.nc-educationlottery.org under the “Where the Money Goes” tab....................Subscribers

NC Education Lottery Commission Votes to Add Mega Millions
RALEIGH, North Carolina (November 2, 2009) -- Today, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) Commission unanimously voted to add another national lottery game for North Carolina players. The NCEL is working toward launching Mega Millions sales...................Subscribers

Lottery Transfers Over $115 Million to Education Fund
RALEIGH, North Carolina (October 22, 2009) -- Today, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) transferred over $115 million to the State Education Lottery Fund. This transfer brings the overall tally of funds that the NCEL has generated for the education fund to over $1.25 billion.........................Subscribers

NC Education Lottery to Consider Joining Mega Millions
RALEIGH, North Carolina (October 13, 2009) -- The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has the opportunity to add another national lottery game to players. The Mega Millions consortium and Multi-state Lottery Association (MUSL) have conducted several joint meetings to discuss the potential of cross-selling Mega Millions and Powerball in all U.S. lottery jurisdictions.....................Subscribers

N.C. Lottery’s Pick 3 Game Popular With Players
RALEIGH, North Carolina (October 12, 2009) -- The lottery's Pick 3 game, in which players buy chances at matching a three-digit number, offers the lowest payouts of any of the lottery's drawing games. The maximum win is $500. But the game has been a popular draw for players, who spent more than $200 million on those 50-cent and $1 tickets last year.........................Subscribers

Education Lottery Introduces Biggest Ticket in its History!
- $200 Million Extravaganza Features Five Top Prizes of $3 Million
- Ten Prizes of $1 Million Also Available
RALEIGH, North Carolina (October 5, 2009) - The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has been busy building its biggest instant scratch-off game in its history! $200 Million Extravaganza is the NCEL’s first $20 scratch-off ticket. The new game will be in stores starting Tuesday, Oct. 6......................Subscribers

New Lottery Game Has Big Price Tag
RALEIGH, North Carolina (October 3, 2009) - The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has come up with a new scratch-off ticket game offering the chance to win some very big bucks.....................Subscribers

N.C. Education Lottery Gaming Services Operator Receives Favorable Audit Third Year in a Row
RALEIGH, North Carolina (September 25, 2009) -- The North Carolina Education Lottery’s (NCEL) gaming services operator, GTECH Corporation, has received another favorable audit for its online gaming and instant ticket processing controls....................Subscribers

Lottery Player Gets 2 Identical Tickets, Protests
RALEIGH, North .Carolina (September 24, 2009) – According to a recent article, a North Carolina Lottery Player Olga Circkot who regularly plays the state's Pick 3 lottery game, discovered a strange occurrence.....................Subscribers

TV Commercial for Ric Flair's North Carolina 'Wooooo' Lottery Ticket
NORTH CAROLINA (September 22, 2009) -- Ric Flair has a new TV commercial for a North Carolina Education Lottery ticket... You must check it out.
Click here to watch the video on You Tube.

Lottery Player Protests at Receiving Two Identical Tickets
RALEIGH, North Carolina (September 19, 2009) -- Last month a woman says she bought two computer-generated Pick 3 tickets. However, both tickets had the exact same number combination............Subscribers

NC Education Lottery Unveils a New Ticket with a Lot of “Flair”
RALEIGH, North Carolina (September 18, 2009) -- The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) today unveiled a new sports-themed instant scratch-off ticket featuring world-renowned pro wrestler Ric Flair.....................Subscribers

North Carolina Lottery Players Go All In For WSOP Scratch-Off Ticket
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – (August 31, 2009) – GTECH Printing Corporation (GPC) announced that the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is enjoying incredible success with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $5 Instant Ticket scratch-off game..................Subscribers

NC Education Lottery Receives Two National Awards
RALEIGH, North Carolina (August 14, 2009) - The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) recently received two prestigious awards. The NCEL earned one for excellence in financial reporting and governmental accounting and also attained the highest form of recognition in the area of quality assurance.......................Subscribers

Lottery Sale Ban By Check Cashers Defeated
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 21, 2009) - An effort to prevent check-cashing outlets from selling North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) tickets has failed................Subscribers

N.C. Legislative Review - Lottery Act Changes
RAELEIGH, North Carolina (July 19, 2009) - Here is how members of the state General Assembly voted last week on House Bill (HB205) — Lottery Act Changes (Senate Version): Makes various changes to the North Carolina State Lottery Act..................Subscribers

Lottery Defies Odds, Posts Record Returns, Sales Up 19% on Last Year
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 17, 2009) – The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) may not be recession-proof, but it’s posting financial returns that would be a long shot for almost any other business in this economic environment...............Subscribers

Lottery Exceeds Return to Education Goal With End of Year Transfer!
Transfer Brings Fiscal Year Total to Over $410 Million
RALEIGH, North Carolina (July 1, 2009) -- Today, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) made another transfer to the state taking it over its budgeted goal for the fiscal year. The NCEL transferred over $25.3 million for sales in June. This transfer brings the tally for the fiscal year to $410.8 million and the overall tally from launch to over $1.136 billion....................Subscribers

Lottery Meets Return to Education Goal Before End of Year!
Transfer Brings Fiscal Year Total to $385.5 Million
RALEIGH, North Carolina (June 23, 2009) – Today, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) met its goal for the year with a transfer to the state and there is still more to come! The NCEL transferred over $78 million for sales in April, May and part of June. This transfer brings the tally for the fiscal year to $385.5 million, including the FY08 carryover of $3.5 million, and the overall tally from launch to over $1.1 billion. The NCEL will close out this fiscal year with another transfer by the end of June that will cover additional proceeds from June sales........................Subscribers

Lottery Receives National Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting
RALEIGH, North Carolina (May 27, 2009) – The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) presented the award to the NCEL for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR)................Subscribers

House Bill Restricts Lottery Ticket Sales
RALEIGH, North Carolina (May. 13, 2009) -- North Carolina lawmakers don't want lottery tickets sold to people who have just paid to have a check or money order cashed....................Subscribers

Bill to Prevent Check Cashing Businesses Selling Lottery Tickets Passes Committee With Bipartisan Support
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (May 5, 2009) – According to local media reports the NC lottery has been brokering a deal to sell lottery tickets at check cashing businesses.......................Subscribers

Regular Player Alerts News Team to Suspicious Wins by Lottery Retailers, Some Store Owners, Employees Win Big and Often
NORTH CAROLINA, USA (May 1, 2009) – A regular lottery player who contacted the news source said some retailers, the same people selling the lottery tickets, are winning multiple jackpots...................Subscribers

Drawing Set to Get New Look
RALEIGH, North Carolina (April 8, 2009) - The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) drawings will soon have a new look. Players will see a new drawing set starting Monday, April 13 with the daytime “Carolina Pick 3” drawing that is webcast on the NCEL’s official website along with all the drawing stations....................Subscribers

Lottery Officials Begin New Game; “Carolina Pick 4” Rolling Into Stores!
RALEIGH, North Carolina (April 9, 2009) - Players have been asking for it and it is almost here! The North Carolina Education Lottery’s (NCEL) “Carolina Pick 4” will launch Friday, April 17! Players will be able to purchase tickets starting that morning at 5 a.m. and the first drawing will be that night.......................Subscribers

State Representative’s Bill Would Make Lottery English-Only
LEXINGTON, NC (April 8, 2009) -- Jerry Dockham, a state representative from Denton, filed a bill in the N.C. General Assembly on Tuesday that would require the state education lottery to print all tickets, materials and advertising in only English............Subscribers

Lottery Treads Carefully on Game Information in Spanish
RALEIGH, North Carolina, USA (March 24, 2009) -- The North Carolina Education Lottery will start printing some game information in Spanish but take steps at the same time to avoid marketing specifically to Latino customers.............Subscribers

Decision to Allow Lottery Ticket Sales at Check-Cashing Store Criticized
RALEIGH, North Carolina (March 24, 2009) -- The state lottery’s decision to test selling lottery tickets through a firm that offers check cashing, utility payment, pre-paid debit cards and tax refund anticipation checks is being criticized.............Subscribers

Education Lottery Hits the Road Again With Popular Harley-Davidson® Game
RALEIGH, North Carolina (March 23, 2009) - Back by popular demand and even better than before, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is introducing a Harley-Davidson® instant game, which offers..................Subscribers

Divided Court Upholds State Lottery
RALEIGH, North Carolina (March 20, 2009) – The North Carolina Lottery scored a victory today when the state Supreme Court deadlocked over a suit challenging the way the games were established...................Subscribers

Possible Name Change For Lottery
RALEIGH, North Carolina (March 11, 2009) - Republicans react tonight to Governor Bev Perdue's plan to use lottery money for the state's general fund.
They've proposed a bill that changes the North Carolina Education Lottery to the North Carolina State Lottery.

Lottery's TV Ad Targets Problem Gamblers
RALEIGH, North Carolina (March 8, 2009) -- In a commercial airing now, state lottery director Tom Shaheen cautions against buying too many lottery tickets..................Subscribers

North Carolina Education Lottery Surpasses $3 Billion in Sales
RALEIGH, North Carolina (February 26, 2009) -- Sometime today sales for the North Carolina Education Lottery will surpass $3 billion since the lottery first began selling tickets on March 30, 2006. This watershed sales amount was hit.....................Subscribers

NC Lottery "Clean-Up" Bill Approved by House Panel
RALEIGH, North Carolina (February 24, 2009) -- The paperwork that's the basis of internal audits of the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) would remain a public record in legislation clearing a House judiciary committee..................Subscribers