Since July 1, 2020, per capita, Idaho is currently the luckiest Lottery playing jurisdiction in the United States. With “oh-so-close to the jackpot” wins on Lucky for Life and Mega Millions in mid-July, the Gem State is leading all 47 other playing jurisdictions in per capita wins over $500,000 on nationwide games. And the winning doesn’t stop at the big jackpot games. In-state, in the past three weeks, we’ve also seen the largest jackpot win on an InstaPlay jackpot game ever on Idaho Twenty 20s. Plus, a handful of six-figure wins are rounding out the last few weeks to make Idaho one lucky place!
In mid-July, Kevin Colvin from Pocatello got the winning started when he won the second-tier prize of $25,000 a year for life on the game Lucky for Life. He matched all five of the first numbers, just not the lucky ball number. His winning ticket was sold at the Stinker Store on Yellowstone Avenue in Pocatello. Colvin opted to take the one-time, lump sum equivalent prize of $390,000.
Following quickly on the heels of the Lucky for Life win was the second largest winning ticket on Mega Millions in Idaho Lottery history, and the ninth largest winning ticket ever sold by an Idaho Lottery retailer. The $4 million winning ticket was sold by K-C Oil in Malad to long time player from Ogden, Utah, Scott Clark. Clark and his group had been playing the lottery together for more than a decade and a half. The winnings were split among five players, with Clark and his wife Angie taking 70% of the prize. The other three winners were Scott Yearsley of Farr West, Utah, Arnold Mikesell of Morgan, Utah, and Curt Walker of Clearfield, Utah. The group claimed their winnings in early August and said since it was not enough to retire on, they planned on winning again.
The year 2020 is not turning out too bad for Henry Buschhorn of Hazelton who won and claimed $803,035 on the InstaPlay game Idaho Twenty 20s from a ticket he purchased at Valley Service in Hazelton. Idaho Twenty 20s is a game that starts with a jackpot of $25,000 and grows until it is won. Buschhorn’s win is more than double the previous jackpot win of any Idaho Lottery InstaPlay win since the game format was introduced in 2014.
Rounding out the big wins in recent weeks were Abby Heintzelman of McCall who won $300,000 on the Scratch Game Midas Touch and then Wayne Jensen of Pocatello who won $200,000 on Instant Prize Cashword. Heintzelman’s winning ticket was sold at the Maverk in McCall and Jensen’s winning ticket was sold at Berry Oil Exxon in Idaho Falls.
It’s been a lucky a month for Idaho Lottery players. Who is going to keep the lucky streak and be our next big winner?
