JANUARY 18, 2012 — “You always hope, but you never expect to win,” said Sandy Conrad as her husband, Don Conrad of Grand Rapids, claimed a Hot Lotto jackpot worth $2.61 million.

“I always buy a ticket,” said Sandy. “I didn’t think much about it. When I went to work on Monday, somebody said, ‘Someone in Itasca County won Hot Lotto!’ I had to work late and when I got home, Don said, ‘Get on the computer [to check the winning numbers.]’ I printed off the numbers and checked.” She saw that all six numbers on the first line of her five-line quick-pick ticket matched the winning numbers and told Don.

“I jumped up and ran out there and looked. I just couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Don is retired, but Sandy had to go to work at the Grand Rapids Herald-Review newspaper the next morning to ask for a day off to claim the prize.

River Road Market, located at 302 – 7^th Ave. S.E. in Grand Rapids, sold the winning ticket and will receive a $10,000 bonus.

The cash option is worth $1.98 million before required tax withholding.

The winning Hot Lotto numbers on Jan. 14, 2012 are 1-4-9-17-21 and the Hot Ball was 10.

Proceeds from the Minnesota State Lottery benefit all Minnesotans. Since 1990, the Lottery has raised more than $2 billion for state programs. The General Fund has received over $1.2 billion to help fund important functions such as education, public safety and health and human services. More than $800 million has funded critical environmental programs. 

Bigger, Better Powerball® Starts This Weekend

JANUARY 12, 2012 — Several changes to the Powerball game will take effect on Jan. 15, 2012. The changes will result in more $1 million winners, bigger starting jackpots and better overall odds of winning a prize.

The revamped game will create more $1 million winners by increasing the Match 5 prize (currently $200,000) to $1 million. Match 5 winners who add the Power Play® option to their ticket will automatically win $2 million.

Here are some of the key updates:

• Ticket price is increasing from $1 to $2 to fund bigger prizes
• Starting jackpots are increasing from $20 million to $40 million
• Match 5 prize is increasing from $200,000 to $1 million
• Match 5 prize with Power Play is increasing from $1 million to $2 million (the Power Play option is still available for an extra $1 per play)
• Prize for matching the Powerball number is increasing from $3 to $4
• Pool of numbers that the Powerball number is drawn from is decreasing by four from 39 to 35
• Odds of winning the jackpot get better (from 1 in 195.2 million to 1 in 175.2 million)
• Overall odds of winning a prize get better (from 1 in 35.1 to 1 in 31.8).

Minnesota is one of 44 lotteries that offer Powerball. The association that runs Powerball conducted considerable player research and the member lotteries made the changes based on what they learned from that research.

“We are optimistic that the enhancements to the game will be well received by players. Players wanted to see more $1 million winners and higher jackpot levels. The game changes provide for that and will add even more excitement to the game,” said Acting Lottery Director Jenny Canfield.

The jackpot for the drawing on Jan. 14, which is the last drawing for the current version of the game, is an estimated $66 million ($41.6 million cash option).

Minnesota’s other multi-state games, Mega Millions® and Hot Lotto®, will continue to be $1 games.

JANUARY 10, 2012 — This was the fourth year that Mike Snyder of Wadena played the Lottery’s Minnesota Millionaire Raffle game. Usually he purchases one ticket; this year he decided to purchase two tickets. That was a very lucky decision because the second ticket ended up being worth $1 million.

“I always buy a ticket because I figure my chance is as good as anybody else’s,” said Snyder. “I never dreamed of winning $1 million. I thought if I won one of those smaller prizes, that would be great.”

Holiday, located at 101 Jefferson St. N. in Wadena, sold the winning ticket. Holiday Companies received a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

The other $1 million prize from the Jan. 1, 2012 Raffle drawing, sold in Steele County, has not yet been claimed.

Trina Cooper of Inver Grove Heights and Jim Schellberg of Rosemount claimed $100,000 Raffle prizes. There are still three $100,000 Raffle prizes remaining to be claimed. Those winning tickets were purchased in Hennepin (two) and Mille Lacs counties.

Minnesota Millionaire Raffle players have until Jan. 2, 2013 to claim prizes from the Jan. 1, 2012 drawing.

Proceeds from the Minnesota State Lottery benefit all Minnesotans. Since 1990, the Lottery has raised more than $2 billion for state programs. The General Fund has received over $1.2 billion to help fund important functions such as education, public safety and health and human services. More than $800 million has funded critical environmental programs.