PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwire - Mar 26, 2013) - The Arizona Lottery announces that the winner of the $1 million Powerball second prize from the drawing on March 23 has come forward. This is the 21st $1 million Powerball second prize winning ticket sold in Arizona since $2 Powerball launched in January 2012.
Craig Krause, an Arizona snowbird from Colorado, purchased five Quick Pick tickets on Friday, March 22 from the Fry's Food Store located at 542 E. Hunt Highway in Queen Creek. Krause, who works in the construction field, has been traveling to Arizona for the last three years.
"I don't have any plans for the money because I wasn't expecting to be a winner," Krause said. "I'll probably pay off some bills and share with my family."
Krause checked his ticket Monday morning and was excited when he noticed the five matching numbers on the top line of his ticket. Krause yelled to his friend in the next room to come look at his ticket, but his friend did not believe him until he also saw the five matching numbers.
Krause and his friend picked up an Arizona Lottery brochure and discovered that five matching numbers were worth $1 million. Krause and his friend then went back to his house to get their other friend, so both of them would be with him when he received his check at the Arizona Lottery Phoenix office.
"Hearing about our newest Arizona millionaire was a thrill," said Karen Bach, director of budget, products, and communications for the Arizona Lottery. "We are excited that the number of new millionaires statewide is continuing to grow and we only expect that trend to continue."
Nationally, the new Powerball game has passed a significant milestone, creating more than 550 millionaires at the game's second prize level.
Along with generating more millionaires, the recent Powerball enhancements also have resulted in an increased number of winners overall. Players are winning more money more often, due to the improved overall odds of the game and the increase in ticket sales. In fact, there have been more than 117,000 Powerball winners in Arizona during the last week alone.
The increase in Powerball sales and wins in Arizona also means more money being returned to important state programs. Arizona Lottery dollars are allocated to fund a wide variety of public projects and programs throughout Arizona that fall under four main pillars: education, health & public welfare, economic & business development and the environment.
Arizona Lottery players must be 21 years or older to purchase or redeem tickets. Overall odds vary by game. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, these materials may be made available in an alternate format. Gambling problem? 1.800. NEXT STEP. Please Play Responsibly™.
About the Arizona Lottery
The Arizona Lottery operates entirely from the revenue it generates through the sale of its products; it receives no General Fund dollars from the State. Proceeds from sales of Lottery tickets -- over $3 million per week -- fund a variety of state programs. Since July 1981, the Arizona Lottery has paid out more than $5 billion in prizes to players, over $2.8 billion in net profit to the state and almost $591 million in commissions to retailers.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Jennifer Adler
E.B. Lane
(602) 417-1594