BOISE, Idaho ÔÇô The Idaho Lottery has confirmed that last night's shared Mega Millions jackpot-winning ticket was sold in northern Idaho. One ticket matching all five numbers and the Mega Ball from last night's $380 million jackpot, the second largest in United States history, was sold an Idaho Lottery location in Post Falls, Idaho. In addition, one Mega Millions winning ticket that matched just the first five numbers, but not the Mega Ball and worth $250,000 was sold at Dan's Ferry Service in Melba, in Canyon County, Idaho.
"The Pacific Northwest is green today, and Idaho is a very lucky place," said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. "There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for our winner right now. We want to remind all of our players to check their tickets carefully for winners and to sign the back of their ticket prior to presenting them for payment. They are bearer instruments that will be paid to the person or persons presenting them for payment."
The Idaho Lottery will not be releasing the store location for security purposes until the winner claims their prize at Idaho Lottery Headquarters in Boise.
"The security and integrity of our games is at the forefront of our work each day," added Anderson. "We have these measures in place to protect our own processes and to ensure fairness for our players."
Last night's final jackpot amount for the Mega Millions draw was $380,000,000. This amount will be split equally between the Idaho winner and the Washington winner, meaning the Idaho winner will receive $190,000,000 in an annuitized prize. The one-time cash option on the prize is $120,000,000 before state and federal taxes. After taxes, the winner will claim just over $80 million.
The winner has 180 days to claim their prize and then 60 days after that to decide whether to choose the one-time cash option or take the annuity. The annuity is paid in 26 payments, the first when they claim the prize and then in 25 equal payments annually for the next 25 years. Each annuity payment is $4.9 million.
"Lotteries provide money for good causes everywhere they're played. As we say here in Idaho, every play pays, with net proceeds of the Idaho Lottery going to the Idaho Public Schools and the Permanent Building Fund," said Anderson. "But players, in the form of prizes, and local businesses, in the form of selling commissions, benefit from the Lottery as well."
Post Falls, Idaho is approximately 150 miles from the other Mega Millions jackpot-winning ticket sold in Ephrata, Washington for last night's draw.
Idaho's $250,000 winning Mega Millions ticket from last night has been claimed by Kevin Anderson of Melba, Idaho. That winning ticket was purchased at Dan's Ferry Service in Melba. Melba is a small community in Canyon County nestled along the Snake River.
CONTACT: David Workman
(208) 334-2600