Not long after we made the announcement this year's Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle had sold out, we received emails from would-be players upset because they had missed their chance to buy tickets. A few even said they wait until closer to Christmas, or even Christmas Eve itself, to buy them, that it’s become a tradition. Unfortunately for them, they’ll have to wait until next year because like Christmas, the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle only comes once a year.

This year’s Raffle was one of the fastest sellers on record. It was the twelfth time it’s sold out, and the fourth time it’s sold out before Christmas. In fact, this year’s game sold out the earliest before Christmas since the initial game was launched back in 2007. Overall, it was the fourth fastest selling Raffle game in Lottery history and the fastest selling since 2009.

There were times during the last seven days of sales where tickets were selling as fast as 2,000 per hour. Over 35,000 tickets were sold in the final week of sales.

We do know one thing for certain, someone, somewhere, who purchased an Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle ticket is going to start out the new year as Idaho’s first new millionaire. Guaranteed. Let’s not forget though all the other winners this. There are 14,423 total prizes in this year’s game, including two, $10,000 winners that will be announced with all the other winning numbers.

The winning numbers will be announced on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 9:59 p.m. Mountain Time.

Players will be able to view the winning announcement live on KTVB/KTFT News Channel 7 in the Treasure and Magic Valley broadcast areas, KPVI News 6 in eastern Idaho, and KLEW 3 in northern Idaho. Players can check their tickets for winning numbers at idaholottery.com, at all Idaho Lottery retail locations, on the Idaho Lottery information hotline at 208-334-4656, or by using the Idaho Lottery Check-a-Ticket app for their iPhone or Android phone.

All winning tickets of $1,000 or higher in this game must be claimed at Lottery offices in Boise. Players will have 180 days after the draw on January 2, 2020 to claim their prizes.

This year’s Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle generated over $800,000 for the Idaho Lottery’s beneficiaries, Idaho Public Schools and the Permanent Building Fund.

In the meantime, for everyone who has purchased a Raffle ticket this year, sign it, keep it in a safe place, and who knows, you might start out the new year with an extra million dollars.

Good luck, Idaho!