Nebraska Marks Powerball Anniversary
July 21, 2006--On July 21, 1994, the Nebraska Lottery began offering Powerball, as part of the Multi-state Lottery Association.Over the past 12 years, Nebraska Lottery Powerball players have won more than 10 million prizes totaling more than $617 million.Among those prizes, the Nebraska Lottery has recorded nine Powerball jackpot winners with total winnings of more than $538 million. The nine Jackpot winners are: Lyle and Dianne Fleharty of Hastings$50.1 million, July 30, 1994 Connie Daily of North Platte$50.5 million (split $101 million with an Indiana winner), November 30, 1994 Donald and Rita Polak of Prague$8.1 million on April 19, 1995 Greg Klein of Milford$2.5 million (split $5 million with an Indiana winner), April 24, 1996 Richard and Iris Johnson of Ayr$18.5 million (cash option on $33 million), November 28, 1998 Marilyn and Charles Anderson of North Platte$2.54 million (cash option on $10 million split with a Kentucky winner), November 3, 1999 Shirley Brewer of Omaha$7.5 million (cash option on $14 million), August 26, 2000 Steven Herber of Omaha$5.6 million (cash option on 1/3 share of $30 million, also won in Arizona and Pennsylvania), December 22, 2004 Quang Dao, David Gehle, Alain Maboussou, Chasity Rutjens, Robert Stewart, Michael Terpstra, Dung Tran and Eric Zornes of Lincoln$365 million, February 18, 2006In addition to nine jackpot winners Nebraska Lottery players have won the following major Powerball prizes:12 winners of $200,000168 winners of $100,00063 winners of $10,000904 winners of $5,000There are nine ways to win with Powerball; prizes range from $3 to the multi-million dollar jackpot.Powerball drawings are held on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Powerball is played by selecting five white ball numbers between 1 and 55, and one red Powerball between 1 and 42.The odds of winning Powerball prizes vary by prize:Match, Prize, Odds5 of 5 + Powerball, jackpot, 1 in 146,107,9625 of 5, $200,000, 1 in 3,563,6094 of 5 + Powerball, $10,000, 1 in 584,4324 of 5, $100, 1 in 14,2543 of 5 + Powerball, $100, 1 in 11,9273 of 5, $7, 1 in 2912 of 5 + Powerball, $7, 1 in 7451 of 5 + Powerball, $4, 1 in 127Powerball, $3, 1 in 69The overall odds of winning something playing Powerball are 1 in 36.61.Total sales of Powerball in Nebraska have surpassed $365 million. Those sales translate into more than $91 million for education, the environment, the Nebraska State Fair and compulsive gamblers assistance. Nearly $259 million has been raised by the Nebraska Lottery for its beneficiary funds, from Scratch and Lotto ticket sales, since 1993. Every county in Nebraska has benefited from projects funded by Nebraska Lottery proceeds.If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Compulsive Gambling Help Line at 800-522-4700.
Published on 07/20/2006