2025 WAKE COUNTY ABC HOLIDAY LOTTERY
IS CLOSED
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THE ENTIRE MESSAGE BELOW BEFORE PROCEEDING!!!!!
( 12/17/25 – WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFED )
All those who won in the lottery have been notified by email. If you feel that your name was amongst the list of winners and you did not receive an email, please notify us at lottery@wakeabc.com.
( 12/11/25 – ARE YOU A WINNER? )
As mentioned before, staff has been working hard with the list of entries. Duplicates have been eliminated, ineligible entries have been removed, and the computer has placed the remaining entries in a randomized order. What does that mean? That means we have a list of winners folks!!!!!!! Below is a link to the list of winners that is abbreviated so as to protect confidential information but still show who won. The list is in alphabetical order by last name. Download the list and verify the data you provided when signing up. The list is abbreviated with the last name (first three characters), first name (first three characters), email address (first four characters), phone number (last four numbers), and the first letter of city you have listed on your address. If you have found your information matches in all five fields then you are one of the winners. Congratulations! If it doesn’t match all five fields, then unfortunately it means you didn’t win but we appreciate your interest in the lottery process. If you have won, be on the lookout for a follow up email mid next week notifying you when and where to purchase your winning bottle. The winning product will be a surprise. Please be patient between now and then as it will take time to separate the bottles, number each bottle by winnings, and deliver them to the store.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD THE LIST OF WINNERS
We get asked every year about winning bottles that were not purchased. As stated in the original post, there is little to no bottles that aren’t purchased when everything is done. We will give every winner ample time to make their purchases throughout the Holidays and into next year. If there is product remaining in the end, Wake County ABC Management will decide what to do based on whatever circumstances exist after communicating with winners. Thanks to everyone for your patience. Congrats again to the winners and thank you to everyone for the interest.
(12/10/25 – ENTRY PERIOD CLOSED )
The entry period for the lottery is now closed. 7,377 people initially entered and we wish everyone success! Staff is currently working on eliminating duplicates and ineligible entries. After doing such, the computer will be instructed to put all remaining entries in a randomized order. As stated before, the list of winners will be posted on this webpage no later than Monday, December 15th. The list will be abbreviated and show minimum characters of the winner’s last name, first name, email, etc. The purpose is to retain your confidentiality but also allow you to match things up to see if you have indeed won. PLEASE take time to read the information and match all fields. If you don’t match all fields then you did not win. We will then notify each winner by email or phone when the product is ready to be picked up and purchased. Winners will be awarded by allowing them to purchase one (1) bottle of the highest ranked product available from their prioritized list of items. Thanks for your patience as this takes a lot of staff time and resources but we want it done correctly and efficiently.
THE PAST
In the past, we here at Wake County Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) have held different types of events to sell products that are either allocated, rare, and/or in high demand. There have been waiting lists, live lottery drawings, and drawings from in-store submittal boxes. No matter how it is held, we recognize that there have been, and probably always will be, positives and negatives with any type of event like this. We cannot make everyone happy, but we sure will try. Our goal is to get the product to you, the customers, in a fair and reasonable manner but not everyone has the same vision on how to do that. We respect everyone’s opinions and do our best to allow anyone over the age of 21 the opportunity to purchase such popular products if so desired. With that being said, Wake County ABC is hosting our 2025 Holiday lottery process. Everything will be done online like the last seven years.
THE PROCESS
We have created an online sign-up form/system. We feel that this form is easier to read and function compared to those in the past. Before you go further, please make sure that you read and understand the following rules that go along with this lottery.
- The drawing is open now through Wednesday, December 10th at 10:00 am. This entry period should give everyone ample time to participate.
- Winners must be 21 years of age or older.
- There is only one entry per person. Duplications will be discarded and will be ineligible.
- Winners must be Wake County residents or live in immediately adjoining communities. Wake County ABC allows this only because of the large population that commutes into Wake County for employment and already shop at our stores. If you reside in a town/county whose local ABC Board already holds a lottery, you will not be eligible in Wake County’s lottery. Proof of residency via a valid un-expired NC Driver License may be requested at the time of purchase. All out of area (Burlington, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro Greenville, Wilmington, etc.) and out of state (Virginia, South Carolina, etc.) entries will be discarded.
- After December 10th, we will put all eligible entries into a digital randomizer. The computer will then place everyone in an unbiased numerical order taking any kind of human element out of the process.
- The list of winners will be posted on this webpage no later than Wednesday, December 17th. The list will be abbreviated and show minimum characters of the winner’s last name, first name, email, phone, etc. The purpose is to retain your confidentiality but also allow you to match information to see if you have won a chance to purchase a bottle.
- We will then notify each winner by phone or email when the product is ready to be picked up and purchased. We will also let all winners know what store to go to make their winning purchase because not every store will be a pickup/purchase location so as to save time and eliminate potential confusion. If a winner is going to be out-of-the town they will need to notify lottery@wakeabc.com to explain the extenuating circumstances.
- Winners will be awarded by allowing them to purchase one (1) bottle of the highest ranked product available from their prioritized list of items. No relative, partner, spouse, and/or friend will be allowed to purchase any winning product. It must be the winner.
THE PRODUCTS INCLUDED
After a person has entered their contact information online, we ask you to prioritize the products you desire. 1 being your most favorite….37 being your least favorite. Giving a product no number means that you have no interest in it at all. What took a TREMENDOUS amount of time in past years was contacting each of the winners and asking what products they desired over another. This advance prioritization which you can provide us, will make the process more efficient and expedient.
As you navigate and enter information, use the mouse and move to the next field/product to enter your prioritization number. DO NOT USE THE ENTER UNTIL YOU ARE DONE. Before finishing, please be sure to review your submittal so that you are pleased with it. We also encourage everyone to use a tablet, laptop, or desktop for ease in reading with a larger screen.
You may find it beneficial to print out the list of products (like a worksheet) before completing the entry form below. This will give you opportunity to think things out.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW/PRINT A LIST OF PRODUCTS
Once you have completed the prioritization, click on the red bar titled “Enter Drawing”. You will have a window pop up at the bottom right of your screen informing you that you have a “Successful Entry”.
THE PRODUCTS LEFT OVER
We get asked every year…”What is done with products that aren’t picked up and purchased by winners?” For the past seven years, there are little to no bottles that aren’t purchased when all is done. We will give every winner ample time to go to their directed store to make their purchases. If there is product remaining in the end, Wake County ABC Management will decide based on whatever circumstances exist after communicating with winners.
LET’S PROCEED
We again thank everyone for their interest and patience with this process. Wake County ABC holds customer service as one of our main goals and we feel that this lottery is fair to all. We wish everyone success!!!!!!!
BY PROCEEDING FURTHER, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ THE DETAILS AND INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE AND AM READY TO ENTER MY INFORMATION INTO THE LOTTERY
PROCEED TO ENTRY FORM
If you should have any questions, feel free to send an email and contact us at lottery@wakeabc.com. Any updates will be provided at the top of this page.
