YORK COUNTY, S.C. -- Lottery-ticket sellers in South Carolina have dodged a $100-million bullet. That's how much North Carolinians spend on average on the state's games.

But they know their luck may run out next year.

Lottery tickets will keep flying from state line registers and there's a clear sense of relief among retailers, seeing the North Carolina games get scratched in the General Assembly.

"I guess we got a little reprieve from that for the time being. And we'll just have to enjoy it while we can, I guess," said Rocket Stop manager Ken Shoultes.

Stateline gamers were the most concerned because almost all the players are from across the border.

The Lottery Supercenter on Carowinds Boulevard has focused almost entirely on the games.

Manager Mike Walters placed his bet on North Carolina players.

"You look in the parking lot and 90 percent of the cars have North Carolina tags. So yes, the customers we get from North Carolina play a big roll in our business," he said.

Though some merchants believe lottery fans would play in both states, they can't hide their joy.

"I would say it's a feeling of relief. We know at least it won't come up until next May," said Shoultes.

For regular players, news of the narrow defeat of the North Carolina lottery is like missing the jackpot by one number.

Charlotte resident Joyce Burrough said it hurts.

"It would be a lot better to have a lottery in North Carolina so we wouldn't have to spend so much on gas money, we would be right here in the city," she said.

To boost interest in the S.C.'s lottery, organizers are constantly adding new games, and bigger jackpots. Next week's Powerball base jackpot will be $15 million instead of $10 million, to keep tickets selling for that game.