NC lottery players can soon subscribe to jackpot games

The service is designed for lottery players who want to get a set of numbers for multiple drawings in advance. A subscription to at least two weeks of drawings for one of the three games is required – players cannot use the service to buy a single ticket – and the tickets can be purchased using a debit card or electronic fund transfer.

At least 11 other state lotteries, including Virginia and Georgia, already provide a type of subscription service to their players, officials said.

“By making a subscription service available for players who like to buy tickets in advance, we’re making those purchases more convenient and providing better customer service,” lottery director Alice Garland said in a statement. “The service is also geared to people who are not currently buying tickets for the jackpot games at a traditional lottery retailer. Together, those increases in sales will increase the benefits we provide to education in our state.”

Subscriptions will be limited to players in North Carolina, and their ages and identities will be verified to ensure they are at least 18 years old before tickets are sold, officials said. As with other games, the lottery will limit the number of tickets a player can purchase through the subscription.

Winnings under $600 would be transferred automatically to the accounts players set up for the service. Larger prizes would have to be claimed at regional lottery offices or the Raleigh headquarters.