The Lotto Matrix: New Record In NC, Finding The Christmas Spirit, And More

Welcome to this week’s “Lotto Matrix,” a weekly Friday compilation of the lottery industry’s most significant, interesting, or absurd happenings.

New lottery record in NC

North Carolina’s lottery scene reached a new milestone on October 28, according to the NC Education Lottery. Jeffrey Gazaille of Mooresville made lottery history, setting a new state record with a $1.33 million win on the digital instant game Bison Bonanza.

The North Carolina Education Lottery, which only recently introduced online instant games in November 2023, now boasts its largest single win in an online instant format thanks to Gazaille’s bold $10 wager. The digital game features a progressive jackpot that grows with each new ticket purchase, making each play a shot at an ever-growing prize.

With odds of winning the jackpot standing at a daunting 1 in 3.1 million, Gazaille’s big win makes him the holder of the state record for the largest online lottery jackpot prize. The national record, however, remains with a Virginia player who won $1.81 million in August 2023.

To claim his prize, Gazaille visited the Lottery Headquarters in Raleigh, walking away with $952,001 after taxes. The payout has reset the Bison Bonanza jackpot to its starting level of $50,000, and, as of the latest update, the new jackpot has already risen to $146,912.

‘Tis the season in Michigan

The Michigan Lottery is ushering in the holiday season with four festive instant games designed around the holidays. Players across the state can purchase these holiday-themed tickets, each with its own unique prize levels and wintry designs.

Starting with the $1 Gift Tag Greetings game, players have a shot at winning prizes ranging from $1 up to $500. The game comes with $5.5 million in total cash prizes and is available in five different holiday-themed designs. The $2 ticket, “Season’s Greetings,” offers chances to win up to $10,000, with a total prize pool of $10 million.

For those looking to up the ante, Make It Rein is a $5 ticket boasting top prizes of $300,000, with $18.5 million in total cash prizes available. And for the most ambitious holiday players, The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year ticket, priced at $10, offers the chance to win prizes as high as $500,000.

With $29.5 million in total cash prizes, this ticket has the highest potential rewards of this season’s holiday game lineup. Last year, Michigan players won nearly $1.8 billion from instant lottery games alone, and this holiday lineup looks set to add to that total.

A Lampoon Christmas

The Pennsylvania Lottery is also getting the Christmas spirit, spreading holiday cheer with the launch of its new National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation scratch-off ticket. This $5 ticket is inspired by the iconic holiday movie and comes loaded with festive features, including a chance to win one of ten top prizes of $200,000.

In a nod to the film’s humor, the game includes a “jelly of the month club” bonus — a fun Easter egg for fans that delivers an instant $25 win and echoes Cousin Eddie’s memorable line: “That’s the gift that keeps on givin’, Clark.”

Beyond the Christmas Vacation ticket, the PA Lottery offers a range of holiday-themed scratch-offs that are eligible for a Second-Chance drawing. A total of $1.2 million in additional prizes is up for grabs.

Now available, players can enter their non-winning tickets from holiday games such as Jingle Jangle Jackpot, Deck the Hall$ Doubler, Candy Cane Count-Up, Gifts Under the Tree, and Nutcracker Cash for a chance to win big in the holiday Second-Chance promotion. Then, beginning November 5, non-winning holiday-themed Fast Play tickets like Merry Money Tree, Gingerbread Dough Doubler, and Merry and Bright can be entered as well.

November 5 also marks the eligibility start date for Draw Game tickets — both winning and non-winning — purchased at any licensed PA Lottery retailer. Tickets from a wide range of games, including PICK 2, Cash4Life, Powerball, and Mega Millions, can be entered into the holiday Second-Chance drawing, creating even more chances to win.

Finders, Keepers

In a story of pure luck, North Carolina resident Jerry Hicks discovered a $20 bill in a convenience store parking lot. Little did he know, this unexpected find would lead him to a life-changing win. Instead of pocketing the cash, Hicks used the money to try his luck with a scratch-off lottery ticket, ultimately winning a $1 million prize.

Hicks purchased an Extreme Cash scratch-off ticket at the store, though it wasn’t his original choice. When the ticket he was looking for wasn’t available, he decided to buy Extreme Cash instead. That split-second decision led him to claim a million-dollar prize, transforming a simple errand into a moment he’ll never forget.

Hicks went to the North Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters to claim his winnings. He opted to receive his prize as a lump sum of $600,000 rather than an annuity spread over 20 years.

After taxes, Hicks pocketed $429,007, a reward that will allow him to take a step back from his demanding career. Having worked as a carpenter for 56 years, Hicks is now looking forward to retirement and plans to spend the money on his family.

Best Of The Rest

Sticky fingers: Oregon Lottery sting busts convenience store clerk who pocketed ticket worth $25K, police say

The value of words: Sandusky woman wins $1 million on Ohio Lottery’s Cashword scratch-off

Maryland players win big: Maryland Lottery pays out $30.6 million in prizes as scratch-off players hit big

Check the prize box and see you next week!