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Lottery luck strikes again

Brian Walker | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 7 months AGO
by Brian Walker
| June 2, 2011 9:00 PM

Kootenai County's lucky lottery streak isn't letting up.

The Idaho Lottery confirmed the winning $1 million Mega Millions ticket during Tuesday night's draw was sold in Kootenai County at an unknown location, said David Workman, lottery spokesman.

"We don't know who the winner is yet," Workman said Wednesday afternoon. "Haven't heard a peep. Part of what we do is to try to find out who the winner is."

The winner has 180 days to claim the prize.

It is the sixth "Match 5" winner on Mega Millions since the game began in February 2010 and the fourth for North Idaho.

Tuesday's winner makes the second $1 million winning ticket on Mega Millions sold in Kootenai County.

In addition, this area had two $250,000 winners last fall and one jackpot winner last January - all on Mega Millions.

"Kootenai County is a hotbed for Mega Millions winners right now," Workman said.

The winning numbers from the draw were 28, 30, 31, 37, 55 and the Megaball was 13.

Workman said Idaho lottery sales increased "dramatically" in January after Rathdrum 29-year-old Holly Lahti, a mother of two, split the second-largest lottery jackpot in United States history worth $380 million. Sales then leveled off, but Workman didn't have specific increase and decrease percentages.

Tuesday's winning ticket matched all five of the first numbers, but not the Megaball. It had the Megaplier, which made it an automatic $1 million winner. Megaplier is an option players select at the time of purchase that multiplies non-jackpot winning tickets up to four times.

"Since it had the Megaplier, it's probably a regular lottery player," Workman said, adding that many casual players aren't aware of the option.

This winning ticket was the only $1 million winner in the country for the draw.

During the past five and a half months, the Idaho Lottery has seen one of its most successful runs in its 22-year history.

Idaho continues to lead the nation's lottery jurisdictions in wins per capita of more than $500,000 on the multi-state jackpot games with one big win per 313,516 citizens.

"We say that luck happens in Idaho and lately, it's been happening a lot," said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery director.

But, even with all the excitement, Anderson reminded residents to play what they can afford and not go overboard.

"Please play responsibly," he said.

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