Play Smart Program Strengthened to Help Players Keep Lottery Play Fun

RALEIGH, NC (September 25, 2024) – The N.C. Education Lottery just relaunched its Play Smart™ to provide enhanced tips and tools to help North Carolinians play lottery games the way smart players play.

The new platform, shared today at a meeting of the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, can be found at NCPlaySmart.com. It includes:

• Tips and tools on playing the lottery.
• Gamified player education messages.
• Engaging educational video content.

“More people than ever before in North Carolina are playing lottery games,” said Mark Michalko, chief executive officer and executive director of the lottery. “As more people play our games, we made sure we invested more in our player education and responsible gaming programs. The new Play Smart program helps our players take advantage of every opportunity to make winning decisions that keeps their play fun and healthy.”

Play Smart began in 2020 as a player-focused responsible gaming program centered on education of lottery players. Input from lottery players and stakeholders helped create the stronger and more engaging program.

“Most people who play the lottery play responsibly,” said Michalko. “Our new Play Smart program still offers information about how to get help if playing the lottery stops being fun. The big shift here comes with sharing tips and tools in an engaging way that applies to everyone playing lottery games that, if used, will ensure play stays fun.”

Three new Play Smart videos are available 24/7 on the website. They include:

• “Draw Games. Get to know ‘em.” Dispels myths about draw games, including the myth of “hot numbers,” and provides information about odds and random results.
• “Scratch-off games. Make heads and tails of it all.”  Explains how odds change from one scratch-off game to the other, how to get information on prizes remaining in each game, and how to check if you won a prize.
• “It’s good to have limits!”  Shares tips on setting limits, having a budget for lottery play, avoiding chasing losses, and warning signs to heed to avoid playing too much.

In addition to the website, the lottery conducts statewide advertising, marketing and communications campaigns to raise awareness of the Play Smart program’s tips and tools. It just completed one four-week campaign in August, plans additional social media and digital support in October, and will conduct a new statewide campaign in March. New Play Smart brochures have been distributed to more than 7,100 retail locations where lottery tickets are sold.

Play Smart™ term is a service mark of the Illinois Lottery licensed to the N.C. Education Lottery.

SOURCE: N.C. Education Lottery.