A Powerball ticket worth $340 million was sold in the Gold Rush town of Jacksonville, Oregon lottery officials said today morning.
Lottery officials said the winner or winners have not yet stepped forward to claim the largest jackpot in the game's history and the second-biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. Jacksonville is near Medford in the southwest part of the state.
They said the tickets were sold at one of the two retailers in Jacksonville — Ray's Food Place and J'ville Tavern.
The store that sold the winning ticket will receive a $100,000 bonus for the sale.
The announcement capped a day of heavy sales in all 27 states where Powerball is played, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann cautioned it might take days for the winner to turn in the ticket: "We advise them to get their 15 minutes of fame out of the way at a press conference, but it's up to the winners to decide what to do."
Baumann said the longer the winner waits before calling is usually a good sign "because it means people have probably contacted financial advisers on how to handle the money."
Besides the winning $340 million ticket, there were four other tickets sold in Oregon that had the five winning numbers, minus the Powerball. Those are usually worth $200,000 each, but because the jackpot grew so large, lottery officials diverted some money into a bonus pool for those winners. They will receive an additional $650,000, for a total of $850,000.
One of those four tickets was also sold in Jacksonville. The three others were sold in Tualatin, Woodburn and Roseburg.
Also on Wednesday, the Oregon lottery announced the Megabucks $2.6 million jackpot winner. The winning ticket was bought in Portland.
If the winner of the $340 million jackpot chooses to take the money in a lump sum, he or she will receive $110 million after taxes. Oregon would receive roughly $13 million in taxes and the federal government would take $41 million.
The winner can choose instead to take 30 annual payments. By doing so, Baumann estimates they would average $7.6 million a year.
In the early morning drizzle, millionaire hopefuls in Oregon shared stories of lucky charms and near misses. "They're still on my fridge under my lucky magnet," said Roger Dowell, 35, a store manager at QFC, a grocery store in Portland, who said he purchased six tickets last night.
Thar's gold in them there tickets!
Six out six and five out of six in the same town! By the looks in the advertisements, every one probably knows every one else.
Could be the same person....playing their two favorite red Powerball numbers.
Could easily be a Californian who got lost in Medford looking for a store to buy tickets?
I hope someone in CA actually purchased the ticket in Jacksonville, OR. If so, then that person in CA is a multi-millionaire in another state. Do you think someone in Oregon won or someone travelling to Oregon won?
I am just happy that Oregon has won the record powerball jackpot and that the next jackpot winner from Oregon will not take 6 years or longer to come around.
Jacksonville is a town of 2,000. Upon further review it's over 30 miles from the California border, and a few miles out of the way from I-5. California hopefuls would be much more likely to stop in Ashland or Medford.
Two Match 5 tickets at the same store in a small town?! 99.99% chance they were bought by the same person...meaning this winner is NOT a QuickPicker! Someone with a system may have come through!
We'll know soon enough. They always talk about how they won. Went to get milk, needed a paper, was getting gas, etc. It would be nice to just once say, I studied the numbers and this is the result of two years of effort.
Jacksonville is a town of 2,000. Upon further review it's over 30 miles from the California border, and a few miles out of the way from I-5. California hopefuls would be much more likely to stop in Ashland or Medford.
Two Match 5 tickets at the same store in a small town?! 99.99% chance they were bought by the same person...meaning this winner is NOT a QuickPicker! Someone with a system may have come through!
Well, there are 43 members of Lottery Post who filled in their location as somewhere in Oregon, so who knows? Maybe one of those systems paid off! If they wrote the system themselves, maybe they'll make another million selling it.
I read a story in LP once about one guy who studied the numbers and won the 2nd prize in MM 5x or more in one drawing...or something like that. He basically had a strong feeling that these particular 5 numbers were going to hit based on previous draws. This was at a time when the 2nd prize was 100K.
The actual numbers that came out in last night's powerball drawing were not bad in my opinion. I mean I can easily see those numbers correlating with ages/b-days for someone's family. They seemed reasonable.
True, the numbers could be birthday/age numbers. But how many people would play two sets of the same number with a different Powerball?
True, the numbers could be birthday/age numbers. But how many people would play two sets of the same number with a different Powerball?
You never know what people will play....case in point: the numbers from the episode of "lost "
But then again, I seem to recall a certain set of numbers from a fortune cookie being very profitable for a ton of people.......
If it's your time, it's your time. Period.
Congrats to all the winners !!!
DD
i know there was a senator who matched the 5 white balls.
I am just happy that Oregon has won the record powerball jackpot and that the next jackpot winner from Oregon will not take 6 years or longer to come around.
Come on!!!
You can't be serious!!
How the hell can you be happy somebody won out in oregon! Oregon for Christs Sake!!!
You should only be happy if you were the winner of that ticket!!!!!
We'll know soon enough. They always talk about how they won. Went to get milk, needed a paper, was getting gas, etc. It would be nice to just once say, I studied the numbers and this is the result of two years of effort.
I hate to break the news to you, but that is just silly!!!!
A system to pick 6 numbers that the odds of getting are 1 in 146,107,962??????
That is soooooo ridiculous. The only way people win these is pure luck!! There is no system to crack.
Sorry to shatter your dreams there, but it's the truth.
Sorry for my ignorance but is Oregon a backward state??
system, shmystem. There is NO system.
People who talk of such things just don't know how it all works. I worked at a TV station in Richmond, VA that televised the Virginia Lottery. We televisied the VA Lotto drawings (before Lotto South) the same night as Big Game (before Mega Millions).
All the equipment was locked up in a separate room next to the studio with security like a bank vault -- cameras, sensors, etc. In that room were several complete sets of balls. I repeat, different sets of balls. Each set was chosen at random by a computer for each drawing. the officials would go in and the computer would say, "use set #4" , the next night, "use set #2." So, if you were at home trying to keep track of what numbers were drawn, you had no idea which set produces which numbers. THEN, before the drawing AND after the official drawing, there are several test draws witnessed and taped to prove that the numbers coming up are random and that it's not rigged. People at home have no access to the results of those test drawings, so there's more information blackout in your database.
YES, if you knew "set #4" was being used on a certain night, and you knew ALL the database of draws for set #4 (including all the test draws), and you had a computer program which could show which numbers were more likely than others to be drawn using "set #4", then you might have a slight edge and you could run to the convenience store and buy some tickets. (however, they only choose the set an hour before the 11 p.m. drawing -- and even that theoretical slight edge is why lottery employees are not allowed to play the lottery.)
But, instead of all that information, all regular people have are the history of numbers that were drawn officially. You have no idea which set of balls were being used on a particular night or even how many sets are being rotated out or how often they bring in completely new sets of balls and throw the old ones out. Nor do you have access to the history of numbers drawn off camera using a particular set in all the mandatory test draws to make sure the equipment is working right before the drawing.
But, let's say somehow you had access to the database of all the official and unofficial drawings, categorized by the sets of balls being used, and you knew for sure which set was being used that night (tipped off by an insider), you might have a slight edge in getting one more number right than normally. :) You still wouldn't win. Remember, all the balls are weighed before the drawing, and there are test draws to demonstrate randomness. If something looks strange before the drawing -- same numbers coming up -- they will switch to another set of balls in a heartbeat.
So, see how a "system" is impossible? I play the Mega Millions lottery, and I choose some of my own numbers and I let the computer choose some. And I'll tell you why. I let the computer choose some because historically a computer picking the numbers will simulate the total randomness of the drawing. Sometimes the balls will come up with sequential numbers (15,16,17) that most people would think unlikely, but a computer quick pick will choose that and then someone wins because of that. so, at least one computer quick pick for me. Then, I choose some of my numbers -- not because I have a system, having worked behind the scenes I know that is impossible. No, I choose some of my numbers because of the people in my life they represent (birthdays, ages). If I win, it's because God will allow me to win and those numbers represent people with whom I would share my good fortune. But, just in case I am not choosing the right numbers that way, the quick pick is another way of letting God work. :)
In fact, when I worked with the lottery people, they told me that quick picks won more often than manual picks.
But, my advice is to forget "systems." That's sort of like believing in Santa Claus. it's a neat idea, but once you really know the facts you see it's impossible.
Sorry for my ignorance but is Oregon a backward state??
No, Oregon is a very trendy West-Coast state with plenty of outdoor action-adventure activities like white-water rafting, mountain biking and cheese tasting.
I am just happy that Oregon has won the record powerball jackpot and that the next jackpot winner from Oregon will not take 6 years or longer to come around.
Come on!!!
You can't be serious!!
How the hell can you be happy somebody won out in oregon! Oregon for Christs Sake!!!
You should only be happy if you were the winner of that ticket!!!!!
This post is bordering on trolling, please knock it off.
If you can't stomach the fact that other people have different emotions than you, you're going to have problems here, because every type of emotion is represented by our membership.
I happen to agree with weshar75, as I mentioned in my other post, and I'm very happy for both the winner (whomever they may be) as well as the State of Oregon.
ChazzMatt,
You are right that for most lotteries, the public doesn't have access to the test draws and which ball set was used. Powerball and MUSL, bless their hearts, do post the test draw and ball set info. for the curious.
I am just happy that Oregon has won the record powerball jackpot and that the next jackpot winner from Oregon will not take 6 years or longer to come around.
Come on!!!
You can't be serious!!
How the hell can you be happy somebody won out in oregon! Oregon for Christs Sake!!!
You should only be happy if you were the winner of that ticket!!!!!
This post is bordering on trolling, please knock it off.
If you can't stomach the fact that other people have different emotions than you, you're going to have problems here, because every type of emotion is represented by our membership.
I happen to agree with weshar75, as I mentioned in my other post, and I'm very happy for both the winner (whomever they may be) as well as the State of Oregon.
Ok Todd, well I'm just expressing my emotion. Isn't that allowed to be represented????
Sorry for my ignorance but is Oregon a backward state??
No, Oregon is a very trendy West-Coast state with plenty of outdoor action-adventure activities like white-water rafting, mountain biking and cheese tasting.
Also a lot of micro-breweries.
I like Portland.
Just don't like the rain.
I am just happy that Oregon has won the record powerball jackpot and that the next jackpot winner from Oregon will not take 6 years or longer to come around.
Come on!!!
You can't be serious!!
How the hell can you be happy somebody won out in oregon! Oregon for Christs Sake!!!
You should only be happy if you were the winner of that ticket!!!!!
This post is bordering on trolling, please knock it off.
If you can't stomach the fact that other people have different emotions than you, you're going to have problems here, because every type of emotion is represented by our membership.
I happen to agree with weshar75, as I mentioned in my other post, and I'm very happy for both the winner (whomever they may be) as well as the State of Oregon.
Ok Todd, well I'm just expressing my emotion. Isn't that allowed to be represented????
I said it was bordering on trolling. Technically, one message like the one I quoted would not violate the rules. However, if there is a pattern that you post several messages with little content other than criticizing people and flaming, then that would be considered trolling.
Please click "Rules" on the left if you have any questions about what is not allowed. (Especially note the rules about no trolling and "No personal attacks. Criticize ideas, not people.")
Thank you all for the input on Oregon.....and what does "TROLLING" mean??
Trolls are people who post just to get a rise out of people or to sart trouble.
I like that....thanks pauline
like as in the sense of terminology...before I get my rear kicked!
We'll know soon enough. They always talk about how they won. Went to get milk, needed a paper, was getting gas, etc. It would be nice to just once say, I studied the numbers and this is the result of two years of effort.
Looks like all my speculation was wrong. No gold in that system. Just buy 40 tickets..."let's give that newfangled Power Lotto a try"...and end up with $340 million in your lap.
One of the most recent articles I read about the winner is that he is married and has a couple kids (based on the article). Spent $40 on tickets and coincidently, it was his first time playing LOL. They play to invest 99% of it and use the rest on like a vacation or sports car. He is a self-employed businessman and will continue working (for now LOL). Seems like an average family from what I read so far.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1236768
ChazzMatt,
You are right that for most lotteries, the public doesn't have access to the test draws and which ball set was used. Powerball and MUSL, bless their hearts, do post the test draw and ball set info. for the curious.
Not many of us have been so close to the lottery. I used to deliver lottery magazines for nearly nine years.