CHARLOTTE, N.C. — You can’t win the lottery if you don’t have a ticket. Now, North Carolina’s Education Lottery is giving folks another option.
You can buy a ticket in the store, or you play a virtual scratch-off ticket right from your phone.
"Our number one games that were most popular are the scratch-offs -- the digital instants we added are simply digital versions of scratch-off games," said Adam Owens, the communications manager with North Carolina Education Lottery. "It's more interactive, and there's more interesting things going on."
Owens said the goal was to go where the consumers are with more folks shopping online. In just two weeks of launching, they received more than $32 million, raising more than $2 million for education.
"The sole reason that this lottery exists is to raise money as best we can to fund education in North Carolina," he said.
The lottery is projected to make $40 million off the digital instants within the first year. By year five, officials are projecting $416 million, racking up millions more for North Carolina schools.
"Over the years, we've been able to build on the amount of money we've provided to the state for education," said Owens. "People in North Carolina should be proud that their lottery continues to innovate and not sit still."
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. If you are concerned about your gambling or worried about a friend, you can call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543. You can also contact the National Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.