My name is Jerry Carter. I am the Director of Security with the North Carolina Education Lottery. I am in receipt of an email that you sent to our “Player Info” site which expressed concern about the level of integrity of the NCEL and our Pick 3 game. Since the Security Division is responsible for preserving the integrity of every game that is introduced to the citizens and visitors of North Carolina and conducts the Carolina Pick 3, Pick 4 and Cash 5 games, I thought I would email you and address the concerns you mentioned in your email to us and others.
The oversight of the daily in-state online drawings is the responsibility of the Security Division. Preserving the integrity of these games is more than a job to the NCEL and Security Draw Team members. This responsibility is a mandate and is taken very seriously. In order to address your concerns regarding our Pick 3 game I am willing to provide a little insight into the level of security surrounding our drawings. Your concerns referenced in your email dealt with the Carolina Pick 3 game so my comments will address specifically that game. However, these remarks relate to all of our in-state online games which include Carolina Pick 4 and Carolina Cash 5.
The NCEL conducts two (2) Pick 3 drawings daily, with the exception of Sunday. Each drawing requires two (2) Draw Specialists and one (1) External Auditor. The “live draw” for the day drawing takes 30 seconds and the evening “live draw” takes 1 minute 15 seconds.
In order for the Draw Specialist and External Auditor to maintain the highest level of integrity of our games seventy plus (70+) integrity steps in the draw procedures must be performed. The following seven (7) steps and at least 63 additional processes must be performed and signed-off by the external auditor before the numbers selected during the “live draw” can be certified. The certification of all winning numbers must be confirmed by all of the draw team members.
In order to document this level of security and adherence of our draw procedures, prior to all drawings being aired by our affiliated TV station, the draw team must arrive at the studio hours in advance. In short, it takes 30 seconds or 1 minute and 15 seconds to conduct the live draw but from start to finish it takes 2 hours to complete the integrity checks for the day drawing and three (3) hours to complete the integrity checks for the evening drawings.
Some of the integrity checks performed include:
- · Randomly selecting the game machines for that particular drawing.
- · Randomly selecting the ball sets to be used in that drawing.
- · Verify that all ball sets used during the draw contain ball numbers (0-9), are from the same ball set and each ball set is loaded in the correct game machine chamber.
- · Perform three (3) pre-test drawings of the machines and ball sets prior to the “live draw” to verify functionality of the machines and randomness of the numbers selected.
- · Perform the “live draw.”
- · Perform “Post-Test” to verify randomness of ball numbers selected.
- · Have the Draw Team and External Auditor certify the official winning numbers.
- · Complete and verify the seventy plus (70+) integrity checks were conducted and passed.
At no time during the 2-3 hour drawing process is anyone left alone to monitor the machines. “Dual Control,”
( two or more people), is required at all times. Additionally, the NCEL statute requires all of our drawings to be video and audio recorded.
Regarding your comments relating to the North Carolina Education Lottery Pick 3 payout versus Virginia and South Carolina payout, it is important to understand that our game design is the same as Virginia and South Carolina and our current payout for the Carolina Pick 3 game is slightly over 50% for the year which is the game design payout.
Playing the lottery is fun, exciting and above all else a game of chance. The common denominator that places all players on an equal playing field is randomness. The NCEL is proud of the integrity level and randomness of our games.
I hope this information addresses your concern about the integrity of the NCEL games. I extend an invitation to you and encourage you to attend one of our drawings if you still have any concerns about our process.
Arrangements can be made by contacting me at the North Carolina Education Lottery at 919-301-3300.
A background is required and you must be eighteen (18)years of age to observe any drawing.
Thank you for your continued support of education in North Carolina.
Jerry Carter
Director of Security
North Carolina Education Lottery
2100 Yonkers Rd.
Raleigh, N.C. 27604
919-301-3409 (w)
919-715-2740 (fax)
E-Mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized state official.