BOISE, Idaho ÔÇô Powerball, and Idaho's love of the game, began twenty-five years ago on April 19, 1992. Today marks the game's Silver Anniversary, and the Idaho Lottery is celebrating its largest, best-selling game of all time in HUGE fashion. There are in-store events and statewide promotions to commemorate the event.

"When Powerball was introduced in Idaho in the spring of 1992, it became an instant success," said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. "Through the years, Powerball alone has sold $766.7 million in tickets in Idaho and been responsible for providing $291.2 million in dividends to Public Schools and the Permanent Building Fund."

Powerball is the biggest single lottery Draw Game offered in Idaho and America. Idaho is one of the fifteen original states to first offer the game back in the early 1990's. Since its successful debut, the Idaho Lottery has had a long, winning history with Powerball. Just six months after the first tickets were sold, Idaho had its first jackpot winner in Meridian. Idaho has recorded five jackpot winners on the game.

The two largest jackpot winners on Powerball in Idaho are Brad Duke who won $220.3 million on May 28, 2005 and Pam Hiatt who won $87.5 million on June 5, 1995. Interestingly enough, both players selected their own numbers and both of them bought their ticket from the Jacksons store located at Orchard and I-84 in Boise.

This Jacksons store holds the nationwide distinction as being the only retail store in the United States to ever sell two jackpot winning tickets on Powerball, making it the luckiest Powerball store in the country.

Per capita, Idaho is one of the luckiest jurisdictions to win a six-figure or higher prize on Powerball in the game's history. Since 1995, Idaho has recorded 66 "near-jackpot winning tickets" ÔÇô those that matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball. There have been 31 winners of $1,000,000 or higher on Powerball and another 35 winners who've won $200,000 or more.

In 1992, the jackpot on Powerball began at $2 million and grew until it was won. Today, the jackpot begins at $40 million and players can win $2 million by matching just the first five numbers and including the PowerPlay option. And of course, the largest jackpot in the history of the world belongs to Powerball; the $1.586 billion jackpot from January 2016.

The announced, annuitized jackpot for tonight's Powerball draw is an estimated $80 million. Players who make any Powerball purchase today through Saturday night will receive a voucher they enter for a chance to win one of twenty-five prizes for "Powerball Tickets for a Year.

# # #

ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY
The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Mega Millions, Scratch Games^TM, 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 $3.1 billion in products, awarded over $1.9 billion in prizes to players, returned $186.5 million in retail commissions, and distributed $744 million in Lottery dividends to Idaho public schools and the Permanent Building Fund. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.