Same lucky numbers made thousands winners in NC lottery. Now comes $2.9 million payout

A set of lottery numbers proved to be lucky — leading to thousands of wins on the same day in North Carolina.

More than 7,000 tickets scored prizes in the Pick 3 game, which allows players to choose three numbers or have a machine select their numbers at random.

The winners all tried their luck on the numbers 5-5-5 . That same combination — plus Fireball number 9 — was picked in the game’s Oct. 7 daytime drawing, the N.C. Education Lottery wrote on its website and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Since three-of-a-kind numbers are popular, the drawing had “a lot more winning tickets than usual.” Now, the lottery is set to dole out $2.9 million in prizes, a spokesperson told MClatchy News via email.

In all, 7,502 tickets won a prize in the drawing. Of those, 7,423 had the lucky 5-5-5 combination, officials said.

Players who spent 50 cents on their tickets are set to get $250 richer. Meanwhile, those who paid $1 won $500.

The lottery didn’t immediately share additional details on how the $2.9 million payout compares to others. The odds of winning a Pick 3 prize with any set of numbers in the exact order they’re drawn is 1 in 1,000.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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