| Game | Result | Est. Jackpot | Next Draw |
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Pick 3 Daytime
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Pick 3 Evening
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Pick 4 Daytime
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Pick 4 Evening
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Cash 5
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Powerball
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Mega Millions
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Lucky for Life
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Scammers are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing their activities in North Carolina. Be aware, stay alert, and never send money to receive a lottery prize.
Draws for all games will continue as normal.
Starting jackpots for North Carolina Powerball and Mega Millions have been removed - amounts will be published before each draw and now depend on ticket sales and interest rates.
Minimum jackpot increases between draws have been removed for both Powerball and Mega Millions.
Powerball and Mega Millions multidraw tickets may be available for refunds, so call the North Carolina Customer Service: 877-962-7529:
The North Carolina Headquarters and all Regional Offices and Claim Centers are open.
The prize claim period of winning tickets expiring between March 10 and August 01 will be extended until November 01, 2020.
The temporary Stay at Home prize claim process is no longer available. For more information on how to claim a prize see the Claiming Prizes section below.
Specific guidelines when claiming prizes in person:
A quick summary for all North Carolina State Lottery games.
| Game | Prize Type | Numbers | Sales Close |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick 3 Daytime | Top Prize | 3 from 0-9 | 2:45 p.m. |
| Pick 3 Evening | Top Prize | 3 from 0-9 | 10:59 p.m. |
| Pick 4 Daytime | Top Prize | 4 from 0-9 | 2:45 p.m. |
| Pick 4 Evening | Top Prize | 4 from 0-9 | 10:59 p.m. |
| Cash 5 | Jackpot | 5 from 1-43 | 10:59 p.m. |
| Powerball | Jackpot | 5 from 1-69 + 1 from 1-26 | 9:59 p.m. |
| Mega Millions | Jackpot | 5 from 1-70 + 1 from 1-25 | 10:45 p.m. |
| Lucky for Life | Top Prize | 5 from 1-48 + 1 from 1-18 | 9:30 p.m. |
Find out when each draw takes place.
| Game | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick 3 Daytime | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
| Pick 3 Evening | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. |
| Pick 4 Daytime | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
| Pick 4 Evening | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. |
| Cash 5 | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. | 11:22 p.m. |
| Powerball | 10:59 p.m. | 10:59 p.m. | |||||
| Mega Millions | 11:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. | |||||
| Lucky for Life | 11:45 p.m. | 11:45 p.m. | |||||
| All times displayed in North Carolina local time. | |||||||
Players can purchase tickets for several consecutive draws in advance for the lottery games on offer in North Carolina.
| Game | Advanced Draws |
|---|---|
| Pick 3 Daytime | up to 7 |
| Pick 3 Evening | up to 7 |
| Pick 4 Daytime | up to 7 |
| Pick 4 Evening | up to 7 |
| Cash 5 | up to 28 |
| Powerball | up to 26 |
| Mega Millions | up to 26 |
| Lucky for Life | up to 26 |
Here's the normal process for claiming prizes in North Carolina.
It normally takes around three business days to process the claim (from the moment the claim is received), but please allow at least two weeks to make sure the claim is received.
Postal Address: NCEL, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629-1606
Download the necessary prize claim form:
Here are the taxes withheld from lottery winnings of U.S. citizens or residents within the state of North Carolina.
| Winnings | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| $600 and up to $5,000 | State Tax | 5.499% |
| Federal Tax | 0% | |
| Total: 5.499% |
| Winnings | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | State Tax | 5.499% |
| Federal Tax | 24% | |
| Total: 29.499% |
If the winner is not a U.S. citizen or is not a resident, the taxes withheld by the North Carolina Lottery are as follows.
| Winnings | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| $600 and up to $5,000 | State Tax | 5.499% |
| Federal Tax | 0% | |
| Total: 5.499% |
| Winnings | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Winnings of $600 and up to $5,000 | State Tax | 5.499% |
| Federal Tax | 30% | |
| Total: 35.499% |
Formally named the North Carolina Education Lottery, the lottery launched in 2005 through an act of the state’s legislature.
The main goal of the lottery is to raise all-important funds for state education, right from preschool through to college. The Lottery joined Powerball in 2006, followed by Mega Millions in 2010. The North Carolina Lottery, to date, has allocated more than $5.5 billion to education initiatives in the state.
Phone Number: (866) 934-0289
Players need to be 18 years old or older.
In North Carolina, you have 180 days from the date of the draw to redeem your winning tickets.
Anybody can claim your ticket if you lose it or it is stolen. A lottery ticket is a bearer instrument until it is signed. Make sure you sign the back of your ticket as soon as you purchase it.
In the state of North Carolina, winner’s names, city, county, and the amount they win is a matter of public record, unless the winner is able to produce a valid protective order or an Address Confidentiality Program authorization.
We suggest that you consult with a lawyer before claiming any big prizes, however, as it may be possible to claim your prize through a trust in order to retain your anonymity.
No, you cannot play through the mail or over the phone. You must purchase your North Carolina Lottery tickets either at a licensed retailer, online or through the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.
Yes. Prizes of $99,999 or less can be claimed through the mail. You can find the contact details on the Claiming Prizes section. Alternatively, you can visit a claim center. Jackpot winners will need to visit the North Carolina Lottery Headquarters to claim their prize.
North Carolina Lottery players can purchase tickets for Pick 3 (Daytime, Evening), Pick 4 (Daytime, Evening), Cash 5, Lucky for Life, Powerball, and Mega Millions.
In North Carolina, all lottery prizes are subject to federal and state taxes. The North Carolina Lottery is also required to withhold taxes on certain lottery winnings. The Tax Information section has all the details.
Yes, for all the games on offer in the state, you can purchase multiple tickets for consecutive draws in advance.
The North Carolina Lottery uses proceeds from the sale of tickets to assist various educational initiatives in the state.
Got any more questions about the North Carolina Lottery? Contact us we'd love to help answer them.
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