North Carolina Lotteries

In August 2005, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act and the 2005 Appropriations Act into law, creating the North Carolina Education Lottery. The Act also created a nine-member Lottery commission, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL). All net proceeds of the lottery benefit education programs. The detailed breakdown is 60% of gross revenue is paid out in prizes, 29% is transferred to the education fund, 7% is paid in commissions to retailers who sell lottery tickets, and 4% is used for general lottery expenses. The NCEL offers scratch tickets, Powerball, Carolina Pick 3, Carolina Cash 5, Carolina Pick 4, Mega Millions and raffle tickets.

The North Carolina Lottery also sells ticket subscriptions online and allows customers to play a second-chance game online.

On 15 April 2013, HB156, the Honesty Act, defining fair practices when the Lottery Commission markets and advertises lottery games, prizes and winning odds, among others, was passed by the legislature.