Florida's first Powerball winner, hits for $189 million Saturday night
Hey, was anyone up in Orlando yesterday, and did you stop and buy a Powerball ticket?
If you stopped at Sandlake Chevron, you might be jumping up and down right now. (Click on the map and figure out what theme park is closest, help me out on that one, folks?)
The Florida Lottery announced that one player matched all five numbers and the Powerball in Saturday's drawing; hitting for about $189 million. It's the first Florida Powerball jackpot hit since the game came to the state in January.
The winning numbers were: 12 - 24 - 48 - 50 - 57 and the Powerball was 22.
The winning ticket was sold at Sandlake Chevron Food Mart, 7331 W. Sandlake Road, Orlando.
Powerball is the mega-jackpot lotto game that is played in 30 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is administered by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). The game’s starting jackpot is $20 million, and increases with each rollover if no one matches all five numbers plus the Powerball.
Powerball has hit eight previous times this year, and the $189 million is the third-highest jackpot of the year. There was a $259 million hit Aug. 19 in South Carolina and a $232 million in South Dakota on May 27.
The Lottery had expected it to be about $193 million and used that estimated figure, but the actual sales now put it at $189 million (either way I'll take it). In some ways, it's fitting for Orlando to be the site of the state's first winner: As part of the agreement to join Powerball, the MUSL agreed to have the televised drawings emanate from Orlando this year.
But on the other hand, wouldn't it stink if the winner weren't from Florida? Or worse yet, some tourist from another country?
Or does it not matter to you? Just curious.
