FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho’s favorite game, Powerball, celebrated its 30th Anniversary today during a public event at the luckiest Powerball store in America! In the spring of 1992, the Idaho Lottery joined 13 other states plus the District of Columbia to create what would become the greatest lottery games in history. On April 19, 1992, the new game Powerball sold its first tickets and on April 22, 1992, the game conducted its first draw. The starting jackpot was $2,000,000 – one-tenth of what it is today.

“Powerball has been Idaho’s favorite Lottery game for three decades for good reason: No single other game has brought as much excitement or made as many millionaires as Powerball has to Idaho Lottery players,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director.

Since the early days of Powerball, this single game has sold over $890.7 million in tickets in the Gem State, provided nearly $45 million in commissions to Idaho businesses, awarded more than $595 million in prizes to players while delivering $356.2 million in dividends to benefit Idaho public schools and buildings.

By the numbers, Powerball has had multiple players win more than $200,000 or more every year since 1992. Powerball has created 36 Idaho millionaires, including five jackpot winners.

The Jacksons on Orchard and I-84 in Boise is the single luckiest Powerball store in America. It has the distinction of being the only retail store to ever sell TWO Powerball jackpot winning tickets – one to Pam Hiatt in 1995 ($87.5 million) and the other to Brad Duke in 2005 ($220.3 million).

The Idaho Lottery celebrated Powerball’s anniversary with a player appreciation event at the famous Jacksons Store in Boise that included special appearances from BALL along with Powerball themed cookies and special prize giveaways to participants.

Over the next 10 years, Powerball sales are estimated at nearly $400 million, providing $24 million in retailer commission and $200 million for the benefit of Idaho’s public schools and buildings.

The announced jackpot for Wednesday night’s draw is an estimated $370 million.

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ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY

The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Mega Millions, Scratch GamesTM, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and the permanent building fund. Since their inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold over $4.6 billion in products, awarded more than $2.8 billion in prizes to players, returned $270.9 million in retail commissions, and distributed $1.034 billion in Lottery dividends to Idaho public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.