Tracy Bell of Banner Elk wants to give back to her community after she won a $466,415 jackpot playing a digital instant game.
“Everyone around here has been through a lot lately,” she said. “I want to help some friends who lost a lot in the storm.”
Bell played a $10 ticket on Sunday and won the top level ‘Epic jackpot’ in the Wheel of Bonuses game, a digital instant game featuring a progressive jackpot that can be won at any time. The odds of that win are 1 in 3.1 million.
“It was pretty amazing,” she said.
Bell said she has trouble sleeping so she likes playing the Wheel of Bonuses game at night.
“It was pretty late, so I thought I was dreaming,” Bell laughed recalling her winning moment.
She claimed her prize Thursday at lottery headquarters and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $334,656.
Bell said in addition to helping with the Tropical Storm Helene relief effort, she will look at buying a new car.
In the Wheel of Bonuses digital instant game, a player can play from 50 cents to $30. After Bell won the jackpot, it restarted at $50,000 and has grown to over $104,000 as of Thursday morning.
Digital instant games are played exclusively online on the lottery’s website or on the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Forty-one different games are available to play online now.
The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program helps North Carolinians make the most of their lottery play. Visit ncplaysmart.com to learn about all things lottery, from tips on how odds work to how to enter bonus drawings. If you or someone you know needs support, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.
10 COMMENTS
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3/22/2025 02:33 – John D.
GREAT WIN AND CONGRATULATIONS. ANOTHER BIG WIN IN THE MOUNTAINS PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS JUST KEEP AN EYE ON WHERE THESE BIG WINS ARE TAKING PLACE AT
3/15/2025 03:50 – shirley b.
Hi at RepeatNCEL.COM
3/14/2025 09:51 – shirley b.
Hi NCEL too many repeats. Send out a trip and let it repeat. I bet y’all won’t let that happen. So obvious!@@@tepeat.com
3/14/2025 08:08 – Andrew S.
The article says the odds of winning that jackpot are 1 in 3.1 million. I think that’s a typo. The odds are 1 in 31 million.NC Lottery
Hi, Andrew! The odds of winning the progressive jackpot are dependent on the amount a player bets. With a $1 bet, the odds are 1 in 31 million, but with a $10 bet, the odds are 1 in 3.1 million.
3/14/2025 03:51 – Brian T.
Lol NCEL, your website is a joke now. Nobody wants your wonky app tracking their phone either. Shame on all those involved with betraying public trust as it leads to collapse.
3/14/2025 01:36 – Pam M.
My turn Congratulations Tracy!
3/13/2025 09:24 – Laura S.
Congratulations! God bless you!
3/13/2025 08:46 – William A.
How many of these digital instant games are multi-state. The new lamp game has a 1in64 million jackpot odds.NC Lottery
Hi, William! Monopoly is the only multi-state Digital Instants game at this time.
3/13/2025 07:40 – Phyllis H.
That’s Awesomw! May God continue to Bless you.
3/13/2025 03:57 – Michael B.
Hey NCEL. I use to get promotional offer pop ups when I logged in for draw tickets before the Lucke Rewards update at least once or twice a week. I haven’t received any recently was that discontinued when things were updated?NC Lottery
Hi, Michael! Bonus Offers have not been discontinued – players will still receive special offers. Stay tuned for more Bonus Offers in the future!
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