These 10 stores have sold the biggest lottery prizes in North Carolina — ranked by largest prize sold. The top store sold a prize worth $2.0M.
The 10 stores listed here are the North Carolina lottery retailers that have sold the biggest prizes — from multi-million dollar Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots to top-tier scratch ticket winners. Every retailer is ranked by the largest single prize sold at that location.
North Carolina participates in Powerball, Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life and more. Tickets are sold at licensed retailers statewide — gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets, and specialty shops. High-volume locations sell more tickets, so they naturally rack up more winning tickets over time — that's a reflection of sales volume, not better odds. Every individual ticket has exactly the same odds no matter where it's purchased.
The top prize-winning retailer in North Carolina sold a prize worth $2.0M. Combined, the 10 tracked retailers have sold $10.5M in prizes.
Any of the licensed retailers above — and thousands more across North Carolina that simply haven't sold a documented major prize yet — can sell you a ticket for whichever games the state offers. There's no special line, membership, or app required at the register; you ask for the game by name, pick your numbers or take a quick pick, and pay like any other purchase. Most locations that sell lottery tickets also cash small prizes (typically under $600) on the spot, which is the fastest way to collect if you match a few numbers on a draw game or hit a modest scratch-off prize.
Prizes won in North Carolina are subject to 5.25% state withholding. Federal withholding of 24% also applies to any single prize over $5,000, regardless of which state it's won in. When it comes to staying out of the spotlight, anonymous above a threshold in North Carolina: Winners of $50 million+ can stay anonymous for 90 days after claiming.
For bigger prizes, you'll typically need to visit an official North Carolina Lottery claim center rather than the store where you bought the ticket — bring a government photo ID, the signed ticket, and be ready to fill out a claim form. Jackpot-sized wins from Powerball or Mega Millions almost always require scheduling an appointment and may involve a short waiting period before funds are released while the ticket is validated. North Carolina gives winners 180 days from the draw date to come forward, so don't let a winning ticket sit in a drawer.