N.C. Lottery to roll out 3 new games in October

Aug 18, 2006, 3:48 pm (15 comments)

North Carolina Lottery

Numbers games coming sooner than expected because of demand

October will be a busy month for the N.C. Education Lottery.

That's when the state will debut Pick 3 and 5 games and plans to start selling a controversial scratch-off game featuring the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

The pick-numbers games are coming a little sooner than expected because of high demand from players and retailers, state lottery director Tom Shaheen said. The N.C. lottery started just five months ago.

Carolina Pick 3, with prizes ranging from $160 to $500, begins Oct. 6. Carolina Cash 5, which offers a top prize of at least $50,000, starts Oct. 27. Drawings will be held nightly at 11 p.m.

Even before going on sale, the Hurricanes scratch-off tickets have raised criticism about whether the game could lure children to play. The game-maker is also tied to an ongoing political scandal in Raleigh.

The state is finalizing a contract for the game owned by a subsidiary of Scientific Games, which sought the contract to run the lottery. The lottery contract eventually went to a competitor, GTECH.

A former Scientific Games consultant was found guilty last week in Raleigh to unregistered lobbying, while a lobbyist for the company also has been charged in connection with violating N.C. lobbying laws. Another former contractor was indicted in May by a federal grand jury for failing to disclose $229,000 in payments from Scientific Games before he joined the N.C. lottery commission.

"I think it's a weird a thing for the state to do," said Bob Hall, research director for watchdog group Democracy North Carolina. "The company is still under a cloud. It seems improper to hand them money."

Lottery commission chairman Charles Sanders told the Observer that officials had no other choice in order to get a Hurricanes game in time for the start of the hockey season. Scientific Games has an exclusive contract with National Hockey League teams for lottery tickets.

"Scientific Games has not been convicted of anything," Sanders said.

Shaheen said the ties to Scientific Games are "not a problem. They are good at what they do."

Hall said state lottery officials should have taken a pass rather than deal with Scientific Games: "They should use their imagination and do something different."

Meanwhile, a state legislator said he's concerned about the message sent to kids by using the family-friendly Hurricanes logo.

"It looks like we're educating a future generation of lottery players," said state Sen. N.C. Sen. Eddie Goodall, a Republican from Weddington.

N.C. lottery officials said other states have sold sports-themed tickets without problems. South Carolina sold NASCAR scratch-off tickets last year. The games can attract players who don't normally buy lottery tickets but are not aimed at children, lottery officials said.

Prizes in the Hurricanes game would include cash as well as memorabilia. The game would be the state's first using commercial branding.

"It's a perfectly reasonable thing to do," Sanders said.

North Carolina has sold nearly $350 million in scratch-off and Powerball tickets since the lottery was launched in late March. About 35 percent, or $122 million, is earmarked for education.

Charlotte Observer

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cps10's avatarcps10

I was going to say that this was in the Observer yesterday morning. This also says that the Pick 3 and Pick 5 games will draw nightly.

NCPicks

Quote from the article:"Even before going on sale,the Hurricanes scratch-off tickets have raised criticism about whether the game could lure children to play..."

 

Why would any reasonable person believe that?Children aren't allowed to play.You must be 18 to buy a ticket.If people can't figure out what a lottery is by the age of eighteen then they don't need to be allowed to do a lot of things,like drive a car. 

I get so tired of all these idiots who try to protect "the children" from things they aren't allowed by law to do already.Stop grandstanding for the media! 

cps10's avatarcps10

Quote: Originally posted by NCPicks on Aug 18, 2006

Quote from the article:"Even before going on sale,the Hurricanes scratch-off tickets have raised criticism about whether the game could lure children to play..."

 

Why would any reasonable person believe that?Children aren't allowed to play.You must be 18 to buy a ticket.If people can't figure out what a lottery is by the age of eighteen then they don't need to be allowed to do a lot of things,like drive a car. 

I get so tired of all these idiots who try to protect "the children" from things they aren't allowed by law to do already.Stop grandstanding for the media! 

Amen! If this was so harmful, then they should have just voted it down soundly...it's ridiculous. I will make sure I buy a Hurricanes scratch off the minute they are available, just because of these morons.

bellyache's avatarbellyache

Quote: Originally posted by NCPicks on Aug 18, 2006

Quote from the article:"Even before going on sale,the Hurricanes scratch-off tickets have raised criticism about whether the game could lure children to play..."

 

Why would any reasonable person believe that?Children aren't allowed to play.You must be 18 to buy a ticket.If people can't figure out what a lottery is by the age of eighteen then they don't need to be allowed to do a lot of things,like drive a car. 

I get so tired of all these idiots who try to protect "the children" from things they aren't allowed by law to do already.Stop grandstanding for the media! 

I agree. I think it's a way for the naysayers to try to make playing the lottery look bad.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

when the pick 4 comes out i will definitely play.i do the pick 4 more than the pick 3 lately.i'll play the pick 3 until the pick 4 comes along........

Just6ntlc

I hope the Carolina Hurricane scratch game is 18 and over.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

just6ntlc i heard that the game could be played by anyone five years of age or older.in fact they will be camped out like boys scouts in tents in front of the building to be among the first ones for a shot at winning great prizes.i even heard that a few were studying the pick 3 instead of preparing for a scout ceremony later in the month,lol......

NCPicks

Quote: Originally posted by LOTTOMIKE on Aug 20, 2006

just6ntlc i heard that the game could be played by anyone five years of age or older.in fact they will be camped out like boys scouts in tents in front of the building to be among the first ones for a shot at winning great prizes.i even heard that a few were studying the pick 3 instead of preparing for a scout ceremony later in the month,lol......

"Look Mommy,I won.Can you help me sign my name?"ROFL

avidnyat

here is avidnyat

avidnyat

t;his is avidnyat

DoubleDown

What are you trying to say ?

EXCALIBUR

Carolina Pick 3, with prizes ranging from $160 to $500, begins Oct. 6

Not $80, but $160, When can I move to NC?

You all there just won the goldpot at the end of the rainbow!, higher than even online for boxed play.

Twice as much as anywhere else.

CASH Only

Maybe the minimum bet will be $1; no 50c bets. In Massachusetts you can still make 25c plays.

Tenaj's avatarTenaj

Quote: Originally posted by EXCALIBUR on Aug 21, 2006

Carolina Pick 3, with prizes ranging from $160 to $500, begins Oct. 6

Not $80, but $160, When can I move to NC?

You all there just won the goldpot at the end of the rainbow!, higher than even online for boxed play.

Twice as much as anywhere else.

UnhappyDon't move to NC yet Lantern, it could be the payout for .50 cents combo which normally pays $250 and if it is, that would make it a low payout. 

SC pays $250 for a .50 combo

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