FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
CONTACT: David Workman
(208) 334-2600
Twin Falls Woman Wins $100,000 on Lottery’s World Poker Tour
Boise – Mary Murray loves to shop at Winco in Twin Falls. But after a visit last week to buy sandwich fixings turned into a $100,000 windfall, she may never shop any where else for groceries again.
After she was done grocery shopping, Murray bought a $10 World Poker Tour ticket from the Idaho Lottery’s new red vending machine on her way out of the store. Once home and after making sandwiches, Murray sat down in her kitchen and played what turned into a little high-stakes poker.
“Right after I made the sandwich, I sat down and scratched the ticket,” described Murray, a regular player of the game, who didn’t believe her eyes when she saw she had a winning poker hand that was worth $100,000. “I must have looked at it 30 times and just didn’t believe it. I just about had a heart attack from all the excitement.”
Without going “all-in”, Murray claimed her winning ticket at the Idaho Lottery’s headquarters on April 28, 2009. She plans to use her winnings to buy a new car and help fund her children’s college education.
The Idaho Lottery was in Twin Falls on Wednesday morning, May 6, 2009 doing a check presentation ceremony for Murray and the Winco Food Store on Blue Lakes.
“The greater Magic Valley area has seen some great success this year with Lottery winners,” announced Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson. “Since January 1st, eight players here have won more than $1.3 million. This is even the second big win for Winco in Twin Falls in the last two months.”
James Steen of Twin Falls won $10,000 on the Idaho Lottery’s ScratchTM game Lucky Loot back in late February from the same WincoStore.
The Idaho Lottery, who was also in Twin Falls to meet with retail partners and promote their newest draw-style game, Double Play Daily, awarded a bonus check to the lucky Winco Food Store in the amount of $12,000.
With the top instant prize on the game won, the Idaho Lottery will officially end this edition of World Poker Tour on Monday, May 18, 2009. Players who have two non-winning World Poker Tour tickets can enter them for a 2nd chance draw and the game’s other top prize of $100,000. Players wishing to enter can do so through the Idaho Lottery’s website or through their tele-entry system at 208-334-4656. All entries must be submitted by 12 Noon Mountain Time on Monday, May 18, 2009 to be eligible.
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ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY
The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Scratch™ tickets, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and the permanent building fund. Since it’s inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold more than $1.7 billion in products, awarded over $1 billion in prizes to players, returned more than $100 million in retail commissions, and distributed more than $402 million in Lottery dividends to state public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.
