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Phoenix Resident Becomes Arizona Lottery's Most Recent Millionaire

2nd Place Powerball Winner Claims $1 Million

A Phoenix resident was surprised to learn that the 2nd place prize in Saturday's Powerball draw far exceeded her expected prize of $200,000. Instead, the winner, who requested to remain anonymous, won $1 million.

The winner and Phoenix resident has played every draw of Powerball and The Pick, using her own numbers since the games' inception. When playing Powerball, she uses numbers associated with her late husband. When she plays The Pick, she uses family birthdates. The winner says she also frequently plays Pick 5. Although she does not regularly play Scratchers, she did win $50 on a ticket her stepson gave her for Christmas. Since her recent $1 million windfall, she is now considering playing Mega Millions.

"Words cannot express how happy we are to award a $1 million Powerball prize to one of our own residents," said Jeff Hatch-Miller, executive director of the Arizona Lottery. "It is especially gratifying since the winner is such an avid Lottery player. There is no doubt that this win will dramatically impact her life."

The winner, who came to claim her prize with two friends from her retirement community, said her prize was a blessing. She will now pay off her home and her credit card debt. The first thing she plans to do with her winnings is take her friends to a steak dinner at a well known, fine dining restaurant -- a place she's never been. The ticket was purchased at an Albertson's in Phoenix, located at 4747 E. Greenway Road, Phoenix, Arizona.

Drawings for Powerball are broadcast Wednesday and Saturday during the 10 p.m. news on Channel 15 (ABC) in Phoenix and Channel 13 (CBS) in Tucson.

Players can check their numbers by logging onto www.ArizonaLottery.com or by calling the winning numbers hotlines at 480-829-PICK in Phoenix and 1-800-499-3798 in all other Arizona areas. Players can also opt-in to receive winning number text alerts by texting "AZLOT" to 411247.

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? Call 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-nearly $3 million per week-fund a variety of state programs. Since July 1981, the Arizona Lottery has paid out over $4.2 billion in prizes to players, more than $2.5 billion in net profit to the state, and almost $510 million in commissions to retailers.