The North Carolina Education Lottery was created in August 2005 when the State Lottery Act was signed into law. It established a nine-member Lottery Commission to initiate, supervise and administer the lottery. Four instant games were offered when ticket sales began on March 30, 2006. The Lottery's first draw game was Powerball, and sales began on May 30, 2006.
It was followed by two North Carolina-only games in October, Carolina Pick 3 and Carolina Cash 5. Carolina Pick 4 was added in April 2009, and Mega Millions in January 2010. These five games make up the current draw offerings. In addition, more than 60 instant games are on the market at any given time.
Lottery proceeds, 100 percent dedicated to education, help pay for teachers' salaries in grades K-3 to keep class size as small as possible, school construction, need-based college scholarships and financial aid, and academic pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds.
While lottery funds have always supported specific education initiatives in all 100 North Carolina counties, changes to the way those funds are allocated went into effect July 1, 2011. The legislature may now adjust how lottery dollars are allocated each year in the state budget.
| News Archive for CY2021 | | January 18, 2021 | New Fast Play Games Start Sunday in North Carolina |
| News Archive for CY2020 | | September 25, 2020 | N.C. Education Lottery Exceeds Goal; Extra $27 Million Will Help Counties Build New Schools | | July 23, 2020 | $729 Million Raised – A New Record -- for Education in North Carolina | | July 10, 2020 | Carolina Panthers' Ticket Offers $200,000 Top Prizes and VIP NFL Experiences | | January 13, 2020 | N.C. Education Lottery Develops New Responsible Gaming and Prevention Program |
| News Archive for CY2019 | | July 17, 2020 | Carolina Panthers and NC Education Lottery Team Up for Scratch-Off Game with Big Prizes | | December 3, 2019 | N.C. Lottery Commission Chairman Resigns; Governor Names Courtney Crowder as New Chairman | | July 31, 2019 | Education Lottery Raises a Record-Setting $708 Million for Education | | June 22, 2019 | Carolina Pick 4 Players Win $7.8 Million with 0-0-0-0 | | May 14, 2019 | New Wheel of Fortune Game Offers a $200,000 Top Prize and VIP Trips to L.A. | | January 18, 2019 | Lottery Partnership Brings New Computer Lab to Boys and Girls Club | | January 9, 2019 | Holiday Cash a 'CLEAR' Winner for The North Carolina Education Lottery | | January 9, 2019 | Holiday Cash a 'CLEAR' Winner for The North Carolina Education Lottery |
| News Archive for CY2018 | | August 23, 2018 | NC Education Lottery Raises Most Money Ever in Single Year, $670 million | | August 2, 2018 | Former Moore County Commissioner Appointed to Lottery Commission | | March 13, 2018 | N.C. Education Lottery Commission Selects New Executive Director | | March 5, 2018 | North Carolina Education Lottery Hits $20 Billion Sales Record | | February 13, 2018 | Cash 5 Issue Results in 48 Players Getting $4 Less Than They Won | | January 22, 2016 | Lawmakers Split on Ways to Get More Lottery Money to Education |
| News Archive for CY2017 | | October 29, 2017 | New Lottery Game, Carolina Keno, Starts Today in North Carolina | | October 19, 2017 | N.C. Education Lottery Trials Play at the Pump | | October 16, 2017 | New game, Carolina Keno, is Played Socially with Friends | | October 11, 2017 | Alice Garland to Retire as Executive Director of N.C. Education Lottery | | October 4, 2017 | Marine Corps Veteran Wins First 'Extreme' $10 Million Prize | | August 20, 2017 | Court Affirms TTAB Refusal to Register ‘FIRST TUESDAY' Trademark for NC Lottery | | August 14, 2017 | Former North Carolina Senator Named to Lottery Commission | | August 2, 2017 | Lottery Raises $622 Million for Education Programs in N.C. | | May 31, 2017 | Education Lottery Headquarters Opens in New Location Monday | | May 12, 2017 | Education Lottery Gives North Carolinians a Chance to 'Dream a little' | | March 29, 2017 | Lottery Launches New Operating System | | March 14, 2017 | North Carolina Education Lottery Commission Votes to Offer KENO |
| News Archive for CY2016 | | October 7, 2016 | Alice Garland: Security Measures in Place to Ensure Integrity, Fairness of Lottery Games | | September 29, 2016 | N.C. Education Lottery's New Brand Signals New Era | | September 14, 2016 | Record $634 Million Earned for Education in North Carolina | | August 11, 2016 | North Carolina's Play at the Pump Lottery Tops $1 Million in Sales | | August 2, 2016 | Just in Time for football, Lottery Kicks-Off First Carolina Panthers Ticket | | July 14, 2016 | N.C. Education Lottery Earnings for Education Top $600 Million for First Time | | June 17, 2016 | SNAP Lottery Bill Heads to Senate | | June 15, 2016 | House Approves Anti-Fraud Initiative Lottery Bill | | June 14, 2016 | Scientific Games Wins North Carolina's Instant Game Business | | June 7, 2016 | House Bill Would Require Reporting of Lottery Winnings of More Than $2,250 | | May 10, 2016 | Legislative Oversight Committee Has Recommended Doubling Lottery Advertising Revenue | | April 26, 2016 | N.C. Education Lottery Makes Record Transfer for Education | | April 14, 2016 | Legislators Back Proposal to Increase Lottery Ad Spend Cap | | March 11, 2014 | IGT Sign 10+-Year Agreement with the North Carolina Education Lottery to Provide a Wide Array of Lottery Technology and Ongoing Services | | March 10, 2014 | Lawmakers Discuss Options for Expanding Lottery Games | | January 7, 2016 | Lottery Names Companies to Handle Gaming Contracts | | January 7, 2016 | Panel Selects Vendors for NC Lottery Contracts | | January 6, 2016 | Griffin Takes Over as North Carolina Lottery Panel Chairman |
|
