Jackpot makes lottery's Powerball hottest ticket in town
BY BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
11/28/12 at 11:51 AM
Related story: Powerball jackpot boosted to $550 million
OKLAHOMA CITY - Thousands of Oklahomans bought Powerball tickets Tuesday as the jackpot record climbed to half a billion dollars.
"Somebody please win so we can go back to normal," said Mike Thornbrugh, QuikTrip manager of public and government affairs.
The cash payout for the winner would be $327 million, said Rollo Redburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Lottery Commission.
The jackpot increased to $500 million on Tuesday from $425 million on Monday.
The drawing will be held at 9:59 p.m. Wednesday, Redburn said. The deadline to purchase a ticket is 8:59 p.m. Wednesday.
The jackpot could grow based on additional sales, said Katy Smith, Oklahoma Lottery Commission advertising manager.
At the QuikTrip at 3050 S. Sheridan Road, the increased business from lottery ticket buyers made it difficult at times to take care of other transactions, said Todd Pitts, the store's manager.
"Basically, the mindset is that it is so big, why not take the chance?" Pitts said.
Customers who normally buy five tickets all week are buying a lot more, Pitts said.
"Obviously, the transactions on the lottery are astronomical, which is good news," Thornbrugh said. "The bad news is it doesn't necessarily help other inside sales" for the store because customers buying lottery tickets don't necessarily purchase other items, as well.
The huge jackpots result in large lines that hamper other customer services, such as cleaning and stocking, Thornbrugh said.
"It wears our people out," Thornbrugh said. "I mean it just wipes them out. They are tired."
The increase in cost to $2 a ticket in January didn't appear to hamper Powerball sales, Redburn said, and Thornbrugh agreed. Tickets previously had cost $1.
"Actually, here in Oklahoma we didn't support going to $2," Redburn said. "We didn't think our players wanted that, but so far it has worked out slightly better. It is up a little bit."
The increase in ticket price increased the jackpot, Redburn said.
"That was one of the planned results," he added. "The jackpot got a little larger a little faster."
Oklahoma outlets have sold four winning Powerball tickets since state voters authorized the lottery here to benefit education in 2004 and the state joined the interstate game in January 2006.
In June 2006, a winning ticket for $101.18 million was sold in Broken Arrow.
In June 2007, a $105.8 million winning ticket was sold in Roland. In July 2008, a winning ticket for $84.9 million was sold in Altus. And in November 2009, a winning ticket for $32.8 million was sold in Kiowa.
Players must match the correct numbers on five out of 59 white balls and one out of 35 potential Powerball numbers, Redburn said.
Out of every dollar in ticket sales, 50 cents goes for Powerball prizes, and another 35 percent goes to the state, Redburn said. The remainder goes to retailers that sell the tickets, to cover the costs of the gaming system and to enhance ticket prizes for scratch-off tickets, Redburn said.
No one has won the Powerball since Oct. 6.
The previous Powerball jackpot record was $365 million, which was won in February 2006 by eight co-workers at a Nebraska meat-packing plant.
Oklahoma Powerball jackpot winners
Four winning Powerball jackpot tickets have been bought in Oklahoma since the state joined the game in January 2006. Each of the winners opted for a cash payout instead of an annuity jackpot that would be paid out in annual payments over 29 years.
Under Oklahoma law, a lottery winner can remain anonymous and claim the prize through a trust as long as the trust's beneficiaries are disclosed to the Oklahoma Lottery Commission. Lottery officials are required to determine whether the beneficiaries owe back taxes or child support, which would be taken from the winnings.
June 17, 2006: $101.8 million jackpot; $46.3 million payout; after taxes paid, $32.8 million to the WJW Investment Trust.
June 27, 2007: $105.8 million jackpot; $46.8 million payout; after taxes paid, $33.2 million to Don and Joyce Harvey of Muldrow.
July 2, 2008: $84.9 million jackpot; $41.3 million payout; after taxes paid, $29.3 million to the Zorro Trust.
Nov. 21, 2009: $32.8 million jackpot; $16.7 million payout; after taxes paid, $11.9 million to the End of the Rainbow Trust.
- From The Oklahoman
Original Print Headline: Hottest ticket in town
Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
QuikTrip employee Austin Sherman (left) helps Doug Evans on Tuesday with his lottery tickets for the upcoming Powerball drawing. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
A billboard on the Broken Arrow Expressway announces the $500 million Powerball jackpot and a $49 million Mega Millions jackpot. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
Marlene Gilliland fills out her tickets Tuesday for the upcoming Powerball drawing. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
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