Raleigh, N.C. — Someone could have have bought a ticket in North Carolina with the winning numbers drawn Wednesday night for the estimated $254 million Powerball jackpot, but the state says that even a draw like that has not been enough for its Education Lottery to be as big a winner as officials had hoped.
Lottery officials say a big reason is tough advertising rules.
The winning numbers picked Wednesday night were 9 19 29 42 53 and 17 with the Power Play Number 3.
The Powerball jackpot drove up sales Wednesday, with North Carolina selling $4,000 worth of tickets every minute. Total sales for the lottery's first year are lower than expected, however.
When North Carolina started a lottery, the state’s goal was $1.2 billion in ticket sales for the first full year.
“We are not on track right now to hit that sales level,” lottery Director Tom Shaheen said Wednesday.
State lawmakers limited how much the lottery can spend on advertising, and what its ads say.
“Would more advertising help us? Sure. Would less restrictions help us? Sure,” Shaheen said. Nonetheless, he pronounces the program a success.
Sen. Tony Rand, D-Cumberland County, a lottery supporter agrees that education is winning.
“Cumberland County will get $7 million. I would like for it to be more, but I sure am glad we're getting $7 million,” Rand said.
Days like Wednesday help explain why lawmakers were concerned about having the lottery become too powerful a lure on people’s pocketbooks.
The jackpot brought Melissa Webman and Jennifer Butler into a lottery vendor. Scratch tickets kept them there.
“I think it's addicting, and sometimes you have to be careful. We've been here for 30 minutes,” Webman said.
Rand said lawmakers will meet with lottery officials in the near future to talk about possible changes, but he added that none is planned right now.
Even With Big Prizes, NC Lottery Sales Are Short of First-Year Target
- Reporter: John Bachman
- Photographer: Edward Wilson
- Web Editor: Ron Gallagher
Copyright 2009 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
4 Comments
-
- Cary convict's new trial set to begin in February
Updated at 11:39 a.m. |
- Novartis opens Holly Springs flu vaccine plant
Updated 39 minutes ago | Slideshow |
- Holiday speed enforcement campaign under way
Updated Nov. 23 11:04 p.m. |
- Poll: People don't trust politicians
Updated at 11:57 a.m. - Concern lingers about Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 strain
Updated at 5:46 a.m. |
- Cary convict's new trial set to begin in February
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- Image Gallery: North Carolina vs. Gardner-Webb
Posted Nov. 23 10:44 p.m. - Pet Photos | November 23 - November 29, 2009
Updated at 11:56 a.m. - Thousands cheer Palin during Bragg book-signing
Posted Nov. 23 9:13 p.m.
- Image Gallery: North Carolina vs. Gardner-Webb
Photo Spotlight
-
Bands, marchers in holiday paradeChoose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.
-
Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas ParadeWatch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.
-
Search for missing IRS refundsThe Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.
-
North Carolina unemployment ratesView an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.
-
A year of N.C. Drought MapsView a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.











STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS


Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.