7,782 people picked same numbers in NC lottery and won. What were the numbers?

When it comes to lucky numbers, lottery players in North Carolina apparently like to keep things simple.

A stunning example surfaced Dec. 13 in the Pick 3 game, which requires players to select three numbers between 0 and 9.

The number 5 is clearly a favorite.

“Congratulations go out to all our Pick 3 players who played trips of 5-5-5 over the weekend,” the N.C. Education Lottery wrote in a Dec. 16 news release.

“Those numbers in Friday night’s Pick 3 drawing delivered over $3 million in prizes for lottery players.”

The drawing found 7,782 winning tickets, and players walked away with prizes ranging from $250 to $500, officials said. The amount won depended on whether they bought a 50-cent ticket or invested $1.

Another factor in the game is whether numbers came up in the exact order you picked, but that didn’t matter if people picked the same three numbers.

“Combinations of three of the same numbers, known as ‘trips,’ are some of the most popular sets of numbers played,” lottery officials said.

“Whatever three numbers you pick, the odds of matching exactly all three in a Pick 3 drawing are the same: 1 in 1,000.”

The winners have 180 days to claim their cash.

This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 7:16 AM with the headline "7,782 people picked same numbers in NC lottery and won. What were the numbers?."