Count Roxboro, North Carolina, resident Willie Scott among the fans of the still-growing North Carolina Education Lottery.
Of course, it helps that Scott still is counting his money.
"It's great," said Scott, who recently won $800,000 in a Powerball drawing. "It's the best thing because a lot of money was going out of state, but now that money is staying in the state to help with education."
Even with big winners such as Scott claiming life-altering prizes, the lottery has generated more than $170 million for education through its first six-and-a-half months of operation. That total is based on roughly 35 percent of the $492.1 million in sales going to education. Scott contributed to the state's coffers as well — he said he cleared about $549,000 after taxes.
State lawmakers were aiming for $425 million in revenues for education during the fiscal year that runs from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, but lottery sales will have to pick up to reach that goal. Sales of more than $233 million the first fiscal quarter netted more than $81 million for education, a pace that would equate to roughly $325 million over the course of the fiscal year. That is $100 million below the stated goal.
But continued success with Powerball sales — North Carolina is right at the top of the sales ladder in the 28-state lottery — and the launch of a couple of in-state games should boost the numbers.
North Carolina debuted Carolina Pick 3 on Oct. 6, and the first 11 days produced more than $3.5 million in sales. On Oct. 27, the state will roll out Carolina Cash 5.
"We fully expected that the first quarter of the year it was going to be difficult to meet the goals," North Carolina Education Lottery spokeswoman Pamela Walker said. "If we did, we would have been surprised because we didn't have our full complement of games.
"Also, the summer months are the slowest of the year because of summer vacations and things like that. We feel like our best months are going to be our two mid-quarters."
Scott said he hasn't tried out the new offerings yet. In fact, he hasn't even bought another Powerball ticket since his big score on Aug. 2.
"That was enough for me," Scott said. "I'm not a greedy man."
Scott is spending this October renovating a restaurant beside the Budget Inn in Roxboro, using some of his winnings to open the Boulevard Bar & Grill around Halloween.
It's an uplifting contrast to last October.
On Oct. 23 of last year, a dump truck that Scott was driving flipped twice, resulting in two broken bones in his back and surgery to put a metal plate in his shattered left arm. Scott couldn't work and was denied disability, a dire situation for a 40-year-old with two daughters attending N.C. Central University and two more at Winston-Salem State.
"The numbers weren't my miracle; that was my miracle," Scott said. "I'm a walking miracle off of that.
"I was nearly out of money, but I thought the Lord would bless me in another way."
Scott took the first step toward getting back on his feet in July, when he started working as a correctional officer at Polk Youth Institution in Butner. Shortly after that, Scott decided to buy the third lottery ticket of his life — his first ticket in North Carolina — after noticing that the jackpot for Powerball had ballooned to $178 million.
Scott let the computer at the Handi Cupboard in Roxboro randomly pick his numbers and was watching on the night of the drawing, when all five of his numbers came up. Scott missed on the Powerball number, but he had paid a second dollar for the "Powerplay" feature, and on this night a multiplier of four came up to quadruple his prize.
Not knowing what he had won, he headed back to the Handi Cupboard with his wife, Brenda, to find out.
"I was thinking it was like $8,000," he said. "At first the guy told me it was $200,000, then he saw it was $800,000.
"I just sat down, right there in the middle of the floor. My wife was jumping up and down screaming."
Once he had the money, minus about a quarter-million dollars in taxes, Scott bought some new vehicles — a Yukon Denali for himself, a Mazda CX-6 for his wife, and a 2003 Ford Mustang.
But the Scotts weren't entirely on Easy Street. Three days after Scott won, someone attempted to break into his house but sped off without entering, prompting Scott to get a concealed-weapon permit.
"It's a blessing, but sometimes I think it's a curse," Scott said. "I've got more cousins than I ever knew I had; I had to disconnect my phone for a week.
"So many people have asked for my help, and I want to help as many as I can but I can't help everybody. I'm bringing some jobs to the area — I've got nine employees at my new business. I always said that if I ever won, I would want to do something to help others."
Powerball has been a hit in North Carolina so far. Walker said that the state led the way in sales in 21 of the first 44 drawings it participated in. Pennsylvania, the most populous state that takes part in Powerball, led the way in the other 23 drawings. North Carolina is the second-largest Powerball state in terms of population.
Next week, North Carolina will launch a daily, mini-version of Powerball called Carolina Cash 5. Powerball players must match all five of their picks to the numbers pulled from a list of 55 number choices, and also correctly pick the Powerball number between 1 and 42 to hit the jackpot. Carolina Cash 5 players must match their five picks to those pulled from a list of 39 numbers. The game does not have an equivalent to the second-level selection of a Powerball number.
But like the Powerball, the jackpot will rise if no one hits it, though the top prize won't reach the astronomical heights seen in the national game. The one fixed prize amount for Carolina Cash 5 is for getting two numbers correct, in which case the player wins his dollar back.
Odds of hitting all five numbers are 1 in 575,757. Prizes will be set up to give about half the money generated by ticket sales to winners and the other half to education and to administrative costs.
Already under way is Carolina Cash 3, a daily drawing in which players select a three-digit number between 000 and 999. Players can win anywhere from $40 to $500 if they hit all three numbers. The winnings depend on whether they wagered on hitting the numbers in exact order or whether they played for 50 cents or $1.
Odds of winning the top prize of $500 are 1 in 1,000.
The lottery's bread-and-butter product continues to be instant scratch-off tickets. Thirty different versions between $1 and $5 in cost are now available with the launch of a Carolina Hurricanes series earlier this month.
But there may be more numbers games still to come, all designed to help the state's numbers when it comes to raising funds for education.
"We are looking at the possibility of a four-digit game, maybe some time next year," Walker said. "It's a unique situation where we're surrounded by lottery states, so we have a lot of players who already know what they like and what they want.
"We got such a huge amount of requests through e-mail and over the phone for a pick-three game that we went ahead and got that in place. We're starting the Cash 5 game soon, and now we're getting quite a few requests for a four-digit game."
hey scott am happy for you and your family, but as you know in life that with the good comes the bad, as they say" misery loves company " any way if you have the time to read more of these tabs, you would see that this is what people were fighting for , your right as a lottery winner to your private life, noe everyone knows you and is suddenly related to you and wants your money, well i say to you to now pull a "ludacris" and tell them to " roll out, roll out " , they wernt there when you were taking your blows of life so they shouldnt be there when you reap your rewards, so protect your family with your concealed property, and tell your new cousins ,all to thousand of them roll out, im just sorry that everyone now knows where you are and what you want to do , so protect your family, from those jokers, not everyone who says hey scott, is your friend, they are just a lot of B,S , ers
In Roxboro, everybody knows everybody and everyone knows that the Scott's have been working on that restaurant long before he won the lottery. The banks was going to loan him the money to continue. My aunt told me that a week after that man had won, he actually had left town to keep people at bay. Since we don't have a shield law for the lottery, I guess we should all be making plans to hide so to speak before claiming that ticket.
Once he had the money, minus about a quarter-million dollars in taxes......
If that isn't enough of a crying shame, the poor guy is gonna find out when he does his 1040 at tax time that he isn't done paying on that $800,000 yet. The govt won't let him get away with paying only 31% on that ammount.
Quote: Originally posted by Badger on Oct 18, 2006
Once he had the money, minus about a quarter-million dollars in taxes......
If that isn't enough of a crying shame, the poor guy is gonna find out when he does his 1040 at tax time that he isn't done paying on that $800,000 yet. The govt won't let him get away with paying only 31% on that ammount.
I totally agree, taxes are way out of wack.
The ironic thing is that some people will say the taxes are too much on this guy, but at the same time they want to "raise taxes on the wealthy". As if this guy isn't wealthy now.
The ironic thing is that some people will say the taxes are too much on this guy, but at the same time they want to "raise taxes on the wealthy". As if this guy isn't wealthy now.
The worst of it all is that no one wants to really define wealthy. By tody's standards $800,000 is just chump change. Its not to me but if you look at the list of the wealthest people in the world not one of them is a millionaire. They are all billionaire's.
There are many in congress who promote this idea of re-distribution of wealth and taxing the rich. What they don't tell you is the re-distribution of someone else's wealth not theirs. And tax the rich, what a joke. Some of the wealthiest people in America are congressmen and women. I get so sick of form over substance that I could choke. This feel good society we have prepared for ourselves is going to do us all in.
Just give me some Botox and Hunt's catsup and I will be happy as a pig in slop. Oh! and maybe a splash of Global Warming to go.
Floridian, I know Botox is a poison injected to get rid of wrinkles, but what's that Hunt's catsup for?
" As if this guy isn't wealthy now." Todd
I wouldn't turn it down and I'd be jumping up & down too. But I don't think this winner is wealthy by today's standards. Did you mean "is wealthy?" He got $800K less taxes. So he'll only keep about $500K or less. Then he bought a 3 cars. He certainly can't sit back and take it easy on $400K and live a life of luxury.
Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Oct 19, 2006
"Just give me some Botox and Hunt's catsup"
Floridian, I know Botox is a poison injected to get rid of wrinkles, but what's that Hunt's catsup for?
" As if this guy isn't wealthy now." Todd
I wouldn't turn it down and I'd be jumping up & down too. But I don't think this winner is wealthy by today's standards. Did you mean "is wealthy?" He got $800K less taxes. So he'll only keep about $500K or less. Then he bought a 3 cars. He certainly can't sit back and take it easy on $400K and live a life of luxury.
According to Nancy Pelosi, "wealthy" is anyone making more than $150,000, so this guy definitely fits that category.
Also, according to Nancy Pelosi, this guy has not been taxed enough. He has not paid "his fair share". He would qualify under "tax breaks for the rich."
The cars he bought were his decision, so you can't say, "well he bought 3 cars, so that money doesn't count as wealth."
Plus, the IRS does not judge wealth or income based upon your whole life. You file taxes annually, and the amount you make in that year determines if you are wealthy.
And yes, somebody who is WISE with that $800,000 will most definitely be wealthy the rest of their lives, because wise people invest and grow their money.
According to Nancy Pelosi, "wealthy" is anyone making more than $150,000, so this guy definitely fits that category.
Also, according to Nancy Pelosi, this guy has not been taxed enough. He has not paid "his fair share". He would qualify under "tax breaks for the rich."
The cars he bought were his decision, so you can't say, "well he bought 3 cars, so that money doesn't count as wealth."
Plus, the IRS does not judge wealth or income based upon your whole life. You file taxes annually, and the amount you make in that year determines if you are wealthy.
And yes, somebody who is WISE with that $800,000 will most definitely be wealthy the rest of their lives, because wise people invest and grow their money.
It's really sad that a state has to go through such contortions everytime they add a new game. What's so darn difficult about adding a Pick-4 game? Why didn't they introduce it with their Pick 3? Why is the NC Lottery so slow to do things yet they are the center of attention all the time?
The worst of it all is that no one wants to really define wealthy. By tody's standards $800,000 is just chump change. Its not to me but if you look at the list of the wealthest people in the world not one of them is a millionaire. They are all billionaire's.
Very true. Say you want to retire. If you don't want to work (or don't want to have to work) you need to be able to have enough money socked away so that you can live off 5% of your investments per year. (you should be able to get 5% on your principle per year)
That means you need to have a half-million dollars in investments if you can manage to live on $25,000 per year in retirement (and remember that $25,000 is gross, not net....you have to pay taxes on it)
So a million bucks just aint what it used to be. Very sad, but true.
One thing that I like about this website is that you can always get good information from people that are inspiring to finally hit the lotto! Knowledge is power and I beleive that a majority of Lottery winners who get themselves into trouble really don't know the liablities of winning a huge amount of money. In the end its really not a huge amount of money that is going to make you happy, but the peace of mind knowing that if you budget your windfall accordingly, that money never has to be an issue when dealing with ones personal finances. (assuming that you hit a jackpot in the millions) Also what it gives you back is time to do some of the things that you truly enjoy. Unless you enjoy your 9-5. (which a majority of people don't!!!) Well when my ship finally comes in I can guarantee you that I will take care of the people closest to me and get a good financial plan in place so that the money works for me, instead of me working for the money.
Quote: Originally posted by LckyLary on Oct 19, 2006
It's really sad that a state has to go through such contortions everytime they add a new game. What's so darn difficult about adding a Pick-4 game? Why didn't they introduce it with their Pick 3? Why is the NC Lottery so slow to do things yet they are the center of attention all the time?
You know, I often wonder the same thing myself. It's not like they're reinventing the wheel each time. Why not just start out with a slate of "baseline" games?
The people they hire to run the games are industry veterans, the contract vendors have been performing the same lotto services for years, and the technology is basically the same for every state. Once the lottery machine is installed in retailer locations, it's just as easy to sell four or five games as it is to sell one game.
Also, it's not like lottery players in North Carolina are going to dislike any of the games like Pick 3, 4, 5, or 6. I don't understand why it takes "lots of feedback from players saying they want a four-digit game" in order to start Pick 4 -- four or five months later no less.
Yet, all of the new lotteries go through this tortuous ramp-up phase that takes 2-3 years. Maybe it's just the slow-turning wheels of government?
You know, I often wonder the same thing myself. It's not like they're reinventing the wheel each time. Why not just start out with a slate of "baseline" games?
The people they hire to run the games are industry veterans, the contract vendors have been performing the same lotto services for years, and the technology is basically the same for every state. Once the lottery machine is installed in retailer locations, it's just as easy to sell four or five games as it is to sell one game.
Also, it's not like lottery players in North Carolina are going to dislike any of the games like Pick 3, 4, 5, or 6. I don't understand why it takes "lots of feedback from players saying they want a four-digit game" in order to start Pick 4 -- four or five months later no less.
Yet, all of the new lotteries go through this tortuous ramp-up phase that takes 2-3 years. Maybe it's just the slow-turning wheels of government?
I believe that the game roll-outs are spaced appart to help keep interest in the games over a longer time period.About the time player start to get bored with the last game,the directors will roll out a "new" game.It's not about any difficulty in introducing a game,it's about keeping the players wanting more.
Scott is spending this October renovating a restaurant beside the Budget Inn in Roxboro, using some of his winnings to open the Boulevard Bar & Grill
Good thing he got that concealed weapons permit since this story tells everyone exactly where he is ( renovating the restaurant )
What does it take to get some dam privacy ?
hey scott am happy for you and your family, but as you know in life that with the good comes the bad, as they say" misery loves company " any way if you have the time to read more of these tabs, you would see that this is what people were fighting for , your right as a lottery winner to your private life, noe everyone knows you and is suddenly related to you and wants your money, well i say to you to now pull a "ludacris" and tell them to " roll out, roll out " , they wernt there when you were taking your blows of life so they shouldnt be there when you reap your rewards, so protect your family with your concealed property, and tell your new cousins ,all to thousand of them roll out, im just sorry that everyone now knows where you are and what you want to do , so protect your family, from those jokers, not everyone who says hey scott, is your friend, they are just a lot of B,S , ers
In Roxboro, everybody knows everybody and everyone knows that the Scott's have been working on that restaurant long before he won the lottery. The banks was going to loan him the money to continue. My aunt told me that a week after that man had won, he actually had left town to keep people at bay. Since we don't have a shield law for the lottery, I guess we should all be making plans to hide so to speak before claiming that ticket.
Once he had the money, minus about a quarter-million dollars in taxes......
If that isn't enough of a crying shame, the poor guy is gonna find out when he does his 1040 at tax time that he isn't done paying on that $800,000 yet. The govt won't let him get away with paying only 31% on that ammount.
I totally agree, taxes are way out of wack.
The ironic thing is that some people will say the taxes are too much on this guy, but at the same time they want to "raise taxes on the wealthy". As if this guy isn't wealthy now.
The worst of it all is that no one wants to really define wealthy. By tody's standards $800,000 is just chump change. Its not to me but if you look at the list of the wealthest people in the world not one of them is a millionaire. They are all billionaire's.
There are many in congress who promote this idea of re-distribution of wealth and taxing the rich. What they don't tell you is the re-distribution of someone else's wealth not theirs. And tax the rich, what a joke. Some of the wealthiest people in America are congressmen and women. I get so sick of form over substance that I could choke. This feel good society we have prepared for ourselves is going to do us all in.
Just give me some Botox and Hunt's catsup and I will be happy as a pig in slop. Oh! and maybe a splash of Global Warming to go.
Floridian
"Just give me some Botox and Hunt's catsup"
Floridian, I know Botox is a poison injected to get rid of wrinkles, but what's that Hunt's catsup for?
" As if this guy isn't wealthy now." Todd
I wouldn't turn it down and I'd be jumping up & down too. But I don't think this winner is wealthy by today's standards. Did you mean "is wealthy?" He got $800K less taxes. So he'll only keep about $500K or less. Then he bought a 3 cars. He certainly can't sit back and take it easy on $400K and live a life of luxury.
According to Nancy Pelosi, "wealthy" is anyone making more than $150,000, so this guy definitely fits that category.
Also, according to Nancy Pelosi, this guy has not been taxed enough. He has not paid "his fair share". He would qualify under "tax breaks for the rich."
The cars he bought were his decision, so you can't say, "well he bought 3 cars, so that money doesn't count as wealth."
Plus, the IRS does not judge wealth or income based upon your whole life. You file taxes annually, and the amount you make in that year determines if you are wealthy.
And yes, somebody who is WISE with that $800,000 will most definitely be wealthy the rest of their lives, because wise people invest and grow their money.
Investing 101 - most people need Budget/Save 101
It's really sad that a state has to go through such contortions everytime they add a new game. What's so darn difficult about adding a Pick-4 game? Why didn't they introduce it with their Pick 3? Why is the NC Lottery so slow to do things yet they are the center of attention all the time?
Floridian wrote:
The worst of it all is that no one wants to really define wealthy. By tody's standards $800,000 is just chump change. Its not to me but if you look at the list of the wealthest people in the world not one of them is a millionaire. They are all billionaire's.
Very true. Say you want to retire. If you don't want to work (or don't want to have to work) you need to be able to have enough money socked away so that you can live off 5% of your investments per year. (you should be able to get 5% on your principle per year)
That means you need to have a half-million dollars in investments if you can manage to live on $25,000 per year in retirement (and remember that $25,000 is gross, not net....you have to pay taxes on it)
So a million bucks just aint what it used to be. Very sad, but true.
One thing that I like about this website is that you can always get good information from people that are inspiring to finally hit the lotto! Knowledge is power and I beleive that a majority of Lottery winners who get themselves into trouble really don't know the liablities of winning a huge amount of money. In the end its really not a huge amount of money that is going to make you happy, but the peace of mind knowing that if you budget your windfall accordingly, that money never has to be an issue when dealing with ones personal finances. (assuming that you hit a jackpot in the millions) Also what it gives you back is time to do some of the things that you truly enjoy. Unless you enjoy your 9-5. (which a majority of people don't!!!) Well when my ship finally comes in I can guarantee you that I will take care of the people closest to me and get a good financial plan in place so that the money works for me, instead of me working for the money.
You know, I often wonder the same thing myself. It's not like they're reinventing the wheel each time. Why not just start out with a slate of "baseline" games?
The people they hire to run the games are industry veterans, the contract vendors have been performing the same lotto services for years, and the technology is basically the same for every state. Once the lottery machine is installed in retailer locations, it's just as easy to sell four or five games as it is to sell one game.
Also, it's not like lottery players in North Carolina are going to dislike any of the games like Pick 3, 4, 5, or 6. I don't understand why it takes "lots of feedback from players saying they want a four-digit game" in order to start Pick 4 -- four or five months later no less.
Yet, all of the new lotteries go through this tortuous ramp-up phase that takes 2-3 years. Maybe it's just the slow-turning wheels of government?
I believe that the game roll-outs are spaced appart to help keep interest in the games over a longer time period.About the time player start to get bored with the last game,the directors will roll out a "new" game.It's not about any difficulty in introducing a game,it's about keeping the players wanting more.