A $25,000 win means a dream vacation for Lee County woman

October 15, 2019 Posted by NC Lottery at 8:44 AM

A big congratulations to Alice Gordon of Sanford. She won $25,000 in our Fall Fortune Lucke-Rewards drawing.

Gordon said she started crying when she got the email notifying her that she won.

“I was in shock,” said Gordon, who works with adults who have disabilities. “I’m very happy.”

Gordon claimed her prize Thursday at the lottery claim center in Greensboro. She plans to use some of the money to go on a nice vacation.

Congratulations Alice. We hope you have the vacation of your dreams!

33 COMMENTS

10/27/2019 10:17 - Tim M.

You don't have to keep responding but I so missed out on 640 right after 000. No lie. Once again, scrolling through the repetitious numbers, I saw 406. That night when I went to cash in that $3, there was a discarded 406 staring me right in the face in the waste basket. Once again I didn't go with my gut. Funds were limited and I didn't want to miss out on what I intended to play in case it hit. Once again I regretted my decision as I watched 640 drawn live! It wouldn't have been but $40 but that's still $40. Interesting also is that the Pick 4 was 4063, the same numbers in Pick 4 form. This parallel happens with regularity. You seem to believe that I believe it's a random number generator. That's not exactly what I said. I said it reminds me of a computer program but I see the balls that are drawn but it still seems fishy to me.

10/26/2019 03:36 - Kyle E.

I'm certain that any answer from me won't make a bit of difference in your opinions about patterns in lottery numbers but being "right so many times" doesn't mean anything at all. Random numbers generators can't create patterns. If all of your studying makes you think your odds are improved then of course you should keep doing it but they actually aren't improved at all.

10/26/2019 03:56 - Tim M.

Case Study #000, 10/25/2019: In the afternoon prior to the drawing, I once again studied the mysterious numbers. I've been anticipating a triple falling. To me, 557 looked like a possible precursor to a triple, possibly 000 or 666. I then studied the 'crossword puzzle'. 000 appeared VERY likely. Did I play? Nope! Why? Because I'm broke and I only had $3 on an uncashed scratcher and decided to save it for the Evening draw. I also distrusted the situation. It's my luck if I went and played the Afternoon, it wouldn't happen anyway and then I couldn't play that night. So I played it safe. I wish now I hadn't. I was right but at the wrong time. This ain't the first time this sort of thing has happened either. I have gotten the Pick 3 correctly a number of times but usually when I could afford to play. When I can't afford to play, I sit at home and still might get it right but lose because of being broke. My point is this. IF all this studying is for nought, why have I been RIGHT so many times?

10/25/2019 02:42 - Kyle E.

You made the point but that doesn't make the point true. Patterns can't happen with any kind of random number generator. It's easy to see a pattern or patterns but they don't actually exist. That's like people thinking their "turn" to win some kind of jackpot will come up if they just keep playing. It's never anyone's turn, the luck of the draw and nothing else determines who wins.

10/25/2019 01:36 - Tim M.

OK, agree to disagree, but.....Case Study dated 10/24/2019, Afternoon draw. I 'studied' the non-existent patterns. OK, 305 is my favorite number to play in the Pick 3. I'm aware that 530 hit the other night. I didn't win because I didn't play. Anyway, like I've said before, numbers repeat, sometimes immediately, or they're near-misses. I looked at the mythical patterns. It appeared 305 could possibly happen. 035 was also possible. So..........I made sure I played yesterday afternoon. Get this, I played 305 AND 035! Guess what they drew? Freaking 034! Did I NOT just make that point a few posts back? I rest my case.

10/25/2019 08:56 - Kyle E.

I've already looked at all of the drawings and while it might look like there are patterns there really aren't. I never said that you or anyone else is creating patterns, I said people's brains do it subconsciously, though I don't think I was very clear about that. Many agree that the lottery is rigged but that's not true either. I think it's best for us to just agree to disagree about this.

10/23/2019 06:47 - Tim M.

@KYLE E, how about actually LOOKING at the last umpteen draws that are displayed on the site? I'm not making this crap up! I'm not 'inventing' anything that's not already there. Just look at the TIC-TAC-TOE type patterns, all the repeating crap, etc. If you play 305, the Lottery draws 304, or 306, the SAME DRAW! Just go in any store where players hang out and I GUAR-ONN-TEEE many will agree with ME. I've heard this stuff for years.

10/23/2019 01:09 - Kyle E.

Yup, still no patterns in any draw games regardless of what people choose to believe. People like patterns, especially when it comes to things like the lottery so our minds create and see patterns even where they don't exist.

10/23/2019 01:09 - Kyle E.

Yup, still no patterns in any of the drawings regardless of what you or anyone else thinks there aren't any patterns, lucky numbers, systems to choose winning numbers, magic spells, winning streaks or anything else that people think will give them a better chance at winning any kind of draw game. People like things to have patterns especially when it comes to things like lottery numbers so our minds create and see patterns even where they don't exist.

10/22/2019 04:23 - Sarah B.

@TIM M.: Unfortunately our blog does not have the ability to add screenshots in the comments. We wanted to share a little info on how our draw games work. Our ball machines are not connected to any computers and are housed in a secure room. Our security staff and an independent auditor randomly select which ball machine and which set of balls will be used in that day's live drawing. There are extensive security measures in place to protect the integrity of every drawing. Daily drawings are always conducted under the supervision of an independent auditor. You're welcome to come to WRAL-TV studios to watch the entire process to see the care that is taken and learn about the strict policies and processes that go into drawings.

10/22/2019 12:46 - Tim M.

Still no patterns? Hey LZ, do you allow SCREENSHOTS on these blogs? Maybe it's NOT luck. If you ask me, it looks like a computer program, especially the Pick 3. Years ago, a neighbor would say something like, "1's haven't hit in the 1st position in 40 draws." He had a point. In just a couple more draws, give or take, '1' would happen. I'm sure I didn't do my homework at the time but people who did no doubt won. I don't know if you know it or not but these apps I have on my phone, they are relevant to current Pick 3 drawings especially. Follow-up numbers, etc., are on the apps based on the current drawing. Fairly often, the winning number is present. The problem is there's 43 more numbers displayed as follow-ups. Unless you play all 44 numbers, per draw, how can you pick the correct number? Nevertheless, the number is present before the NEXT draw! The problem is picking and choosing what to play and unless you have the funds to back this, you just simply lose most of the time.

10/22/2019 12:36 - Kyle E.

The first time we won was on a $1 dollar ticket that my wife scratched and won $100 bucks which was a huge deal since we were both making about $4 an hour at the time.

10/21/2019 04:15 - Denver G.

THX KYLE. The very 1st time I won pic4 was the very 1st time I played it after putting up my new neighbors mailbox. I have always been lucky. Hell my nick name was lucky in HS, the cheerleaders love them some little Denny. It's okay, my Queen Bee doesn't read this nonsense. May the force be with Kyle, time to watch some South Park.....

10/21/2019 02:03 - Kyle E.

Denver's right, there aren't any winning patterns,formulas,systems, hot or cold numbers, or anything else that can be used to win the draw games. Our brains like patterns and order so we tend to see what's not there. Luck and karma really ARE the only things that determines the winners. I've been playing for 30 years with no big wins but "what if" is a big part of the fun, at least it is for me.

10/21/2019 07:57 - Denver G.

Hey Roger, those wins were spread out over 7 years. Just a few days ago I played $2, 20 draw 7 spot Keno slip and got 6 out of 7 for $200 on the very last draw. Just missed 7 of 7 for $9000. I got that tic with house money from Keno ticket the day b4. Keep pounding Roger !!!

10/20/2019 09:02 - Roger K.

oh, wow! Denver! 18,500 dollars you have won! That's more than I make a year drawing my check each month. You say, no magic formula, NO patterns, Just luck, with a little good karma thrown in. Well of course I don't have that kind of money either to play with. House money! So keep on keeping on.

10/20/2019 12:51 - Tim M.

@NC LOTTERY, when someone wins a prize like this, you usually tell what the winner actually takes home, after taxes. All you reported is she won $25K and claimed it in Greensboro. So, what was her take-home pay?NC Lottery
Sorry about that, Tim! After state and federal taxes, Alice took home $17,687.50.

10/17/2019 09:41 - Herman S.

Hello NCEL-LZ, any details on the upcoming Christmas tickets and promotions/second chance drawings for the Christmas holidays? Are you releasing the Jingle Bells-Christmas tickets in November? NC Lottery
Good morning Herman, We are excited to unveil five new holiday tickets on Nov. 5! We do not have a Jingle Bells ticket this year. The tickets will be $1-$10 with top prizes ranging from $5,000 to $150,000. The $10 ticket is a special holiday edition of our popular "$50 or $100" game with over 280,000 prizes of $50 or $100 packed into the game. All five of the tickets will be eligible to enter the holiday second-chance promotion. The holiday second-chance promotion will consist of two drawings and in each drawing, one winner will win $50,000, five will win $10,000 and 50 will win $500. Having that extra cash would certainly make holiday shopping a lot more enjoyable, don't you think? :)

10/17/2019 09:39 - Tom a.

Tim M maybe pick 3 is just lucky for me but I have been much more luckier with it than most scratch offs. People don t realize you can play for 50 cent or more.

10/17/2019 11:29 - Denver G.

Morning LZ. I got to use one of the new (smaller) lottery kiosk machine this morning. Way cool, just like it's big bro the vending machine. Once you get it to except your drivers license it's was very user friendly. I think I was holding my license too close to the scanner. Just like big bro, it takes debit & and you can scan tickets to see if they are winners.NC Lottery
Good morning Denver. Thanks for sharing your experience with the new kiosk! Great reminder about the license scanner. We're glad to hear that you like it.

10/17/2019 08:14 - michael b.

How many points did she entered, also is it the points you enter you have a better chance. NC Lottery
Hi there Michael, We don't know how many points she used to enter this drawing, that's not information that the blog team has on-hand to share. It's true that your odds are better the more entries you submit, but all it takes to win is having just one lucky entry.

10/16/2019 07:21 - Jose Ramon O.

Because next to the winning name they don't put the total points.

10/16/2019 06:40 - Tim M.

@DENVER G, there are NO patterns? Really? Have you ever taken time to study the Pick 3? It's the most flip-flopping, mirroring, repeating mess I've ever seen! Coincidence, or not? I say not. And the problem is, you'd think you can work it to your advantage but most of the time it backfires, unless you have lots of money to cover the bases. I used to could cover the bases but not now. I also won hand over fist when I could afford to do that but no longer. Now I barely put anything on anything and also barely win. Nevertheless, believe me, the patterns are there. You can't tell me that you haven't been in the store before and heard players discussing this? Some even have booklets.

10/16/2019 10:47 - Denver G.

@Roger K. Why's everyone always after me lucky charms? Seriously though, there is no magic formula. There are NO patterns. Just luck, with a little good karma thrown in. I have never won more then $1000 on a scratcher. The most I have won was on pic4 which I hardly ever play. $5k twice & $7500 once. I just happened to "see" the #s and decided to play. Being a bee keeper I have learned not to be in a hurry. I have gotten stung many times. I always leave honey in the hive so the bees can survive! I have learned not to complain much. If I do my wife smacks me on the back of the head and says "buck up butter cup".

10/16/2019 10:46 - Brenda S.

Best wishes,

10/16/2019 10:28 - Evgeny P.

Congratulations to the winner! @nclottery: can you please share the total number of entries for the draw?NC Lottery
Of course! The Fall Fortune Lucke-Rewards drawing had a total of 1,987,277 entries.

10/16/2019 09:31 - Melvin C.

congrats enjoy

10/15/2019 07:27 - Sheila I.

@DenverG. Congrats to you!!!!

10/15/2019 06:53 - Roger K.

Congratulations to Alice G. I wish My turn would come for a big win. I had 40 points for that drawing. Guess she was the lucky one!Denver, you must be a lucky soul to win as much as you do. Everytime I get on here, reading your post you speak of winning a lot. Please tell us all how you do it. Good Luck everyone!

10/15/2019 06:05 - Tim M.

@NC LOTTERY, just out of curiosity, how many total entries did she have in this promotion and how were they spread out, or not? I had an OK amount of entries and as usual, didn't win. It's not really petty when you've entered for probably 5 years, give or take, off and on, yet never win anything, not even $100 with multiple winners? It feels like wasting time and effort. How about an auditor FOR the auditor? LOL. NC Lottery
Hey Tim, We leave it up to each winner to share how many entries they had into a drawing, that's not information the blog team has on hand. As you know, these drawings receive hundreds of thousands of entries. While your odds are better the more entries you submit, all it takes to win is having just one lucky entry. We hope your entry is a lucky one soon!

10/15/2019 12:13 - Denver G.

@Sheila. I got a little thrill Monday. I bought 3 of the 50x the cash tics. Won $10 on 1 & had 10x$5 on another. I know certain players get on here & constantly complain about petty frivolous things way too often. I say, don't sweat the petty stuff & don't pet the sweaty stuff. Side bar to the LZ. I couldn't cash my ticket in 2day because they were installing a new improved lottery terminal. No spoiler alert, but in one word "NICE" !!!! Looks very user friendly. NC Lottery
Thanks for letting us know that you like the new and improved terminal, Denver! We're hoping it will make everyone's experience much more effortless and convenient.

10/15/2019 11:03 - Denver G.

Congrats Alice. Another fine example of GOOD KARMA !!! My wife has an adult nephew & niece with special needs. I am sure you deserve to win and could use a nice relaxing vacation....

10/15/2019 10:17 - Douglas H.

CONGRATULATIONS:-). What a great picture. Now that’s a happy “I can’t believe I won” picture! Enjoy. Bless you for the work you do with disabled people.Have fun on vacation

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A $25,000 win means a dream vacation for Lee County woman

October 15, 2019 Posted by NC Lottery at 8:44 AM