The Pennsylvania Lottery recently announced that a winning ticket for the October 17, 2023 Match 6 drawing was sold in Bucks County. The jackpot for the drawing was an estimated $2.04 million. Match 6 is an exclusive jackpot game only available in Pennsylvania. This has left many Pennsylvania lottery players wondering, where exactly in Bucks County was the winning ticket purchased?
More About the Winning Ticket
The Pennsylvania Lottery has confirmed that a single winning ticket matched all six numbers drawn on October 17 – 11, 12, 20, 21, 30, and 43. The winner has not yet come forward. Lottery officials are urging players to carefully check their tickets. The winning ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven store on 2114 South Eagle Road in Newtown, Bucks County. The retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the big winning ticket. Until the winner is identified, no other details about the winner will be released. The winner has one year from the drawing date to claim the jackpot.
Where Newtown is Located in Bucks County
Newtown is located in upper Bucks County, about 27 miles northeast of Philadelphia and 9 miles south of Trenton, NJ. With a population of around 2,500 people, Newtown is a small borough surrounded by Newtown Township. Bucks County itself is considered part of suburban Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. The county borders Philadelphia to the southwest and Trenton, NJ to the northeast across the Delaware River. Bucks County is comprised of a mix of small towns, rural areas, and developed suburbs.
County | 2010 Population |
---|---|
Bucks County | 625,249 |
Some key facts about Bucks County:
– Largest county in Philadelphia metro area by land area
– Third largest county in PA by population
– Home to Sesame Place theme park and Peddler’s Village shopping/dining complex
– Affluent suburbs with high household incomes and home prices
– Mix of rural, suburban, small towns, and historic sites
So while the winner came from the small borough of Newtown, they live in the affluent and populous suburban county that is Bucks.
Newtown Borough Background
Newtown Borough where the ticket was sold is one of the older communities in Bucks County. It dates back to 1684 when it was founded by William Penn and included as part of his plan for Philadelphia. For its first hundred years, Newtown was the county seat of Bucks County and a thriving commercial center. The county seat moved to Bristol in 1725 and Newtown transitioned into a quiet residential community.
Today, Newtown retains its historic small town charm and appeal. The Newtown Commercial Historic District, Spread Eagle Inn Historic District, and Half Moon Inn are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Popular attractions include the Court Street Theatre performing arts center and Chandler Hall manor house. QNB BankCorp has its headquarters in Newtown. The borough has retained strict zoning rules which helped preserve the historic architecture and look of the community. It serves as a quaint suburban escape with dining and unique shops just a short drive from Philadelphia.
Newtown Demographics
According to 2019 Census estimates, Newtown borough has a population of around 2,580 residents. Some key facts about the population:
– 92.5% White
– 4.3% Asian
– 2.1% Hispanic/Latino
– Median Age: 44.4 years old
– Median Household Income: $88,958
So Newtown is predominantly white, affluent, and middle-aged. The typical resident is an educated professional working in finance, healthcare, technology or other white collar field. They likely sought out Newtown for its historic small town feel while still offering proximity to major employers in Philadelphia.
Details on the 7-Eleven Store Location
The Match 6 ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 2114 South Eagle Road in Newtown. Some key facts about this location:
– Open 24/7 for convenience
– Offers wide selection of snacks, drinks, coffee, sandwiches
– Has ATM and lottery ticket machine
– Situated along busy Route 332 (South Eagle Road)
– Store has been at this location since early 2000s
– Within walking distance of suburban neighborhoods
This 7-Eleven sits in a commercial corridor surrounded by single family homes. Nearby amenities include a Wawa Food Market, Dunkin Donuts, and suburban office parks. While right along a major road, the store benefits from significant foot and vehicle traffic. Lottery ticket sales are likely a consistent source of revenue thanks to the constant flow of customers stopping by for gas, ATM access, and other everyday items.
Other Nearby Lottery Retailers
Within a 2 mile radius of the winning 7-Eleven are around a dozen other retailers also selling PA lottery tickets. This includes grocery stores, gas stations, delis, and pharmacies. Having that density of lottery retailers in Newtown and the surrounding area increases overall ticket sales and makes it more likely a big winner could be sold in the borough. While the winning ticket happened to be sold at the South Eagle Road 7-Eleven, any one of these retailers could have sold it. Some of the other nearby lottery retailers include:
- Wawa Food Market
- Giant Food Store
- Newtown Pharmacy
- Beer N Cigarette Outlet
- Swatara Coffee Shop
- Exxon gas station
- Walgreens
- Rita’s Water Ice
Past Big Winners in Bucks County
While lottery jackpot winners can come from anywhere, certain counties in Pennsylvania have proven luckier than others in past drawings. Bucks County in particular has sold more than its fair share of big winning lottery tickets over the years. A sample of some recent major lottery prizes sold in Bucks County includes:
Date | Game | Winning Amount | Retailer Location |
---|---|---|---|
October 2021 | Mega Millions | $494 million | 7-Eleven, Bristol Township |
June 2021 | Powerball | $150 million | Levittown Mini Mart |
January 2020 | Mega Millions | $202 million | 7-Eleven, Bensalem |
May 2018 | Powerball | $150 million | Quaker Deli, Bristol |
Bucks County has a track record of lucky lottery locations paying out 8 and 9-figure jackpots. This makes Newtown joining the list less surprising. Lottery officials have confirmed the $2.04 Match 6 jackpot win marks the fifth largest lottery prize ever awarded to someone in Bucks County.
Pennsylvania Lottery Game Background
The Pennsylvania Lottery was founded in 1971 as part of the Commonwealth’s effort to provide senior citizens property tax relief. In the past fiscal year, the PA lottery generated over $1 billion for programs benefitting older Pennsylvanians. Match 6 is one of several draw games the lottery offers.
Some key facts about Match 6:
– Exclusive jackpot game only available in Pennsylvania
– To play, pick 6 numbers from 1 to 49
– Two drawings held per week (Monday and Thursday)
– Minimum jackpot is $500,000 which rolls over if not won
– Overall odds of winning are 1 in 1.2 million
– Tickets cost $2 per play
– First launched in 2002
– Generates around $60 million in annual sales
For matching all six numbers, the base prize is $500,000. However, the jackpot frequently rolls over and rises above that minimum. The $2.04 million October 17 jackpot was the result of no one hitting the Match 6 winning numbers for eight consecutive drawings. It’s not uncommon for the game to create an eight-figure millionaire once or twice a year when the jackpot grows large enough.
How to Play Match 6
Playing Match 6 is simple. Players select 6 numbers between 1 and 49. Tickets costs $2 per play. There are four ways to win a prize:
– Match 6 numbers: Jackpot prize (starts at $500,000)
– Match 5 numbers: $2,500
– Match 4 numbers: $50
– Match 3 numbers: $5
The overall odds of winning any prize are around 1 in 6. Matching all six numbers is understandably rare, with odds of 1 in 1.2 million. But matching some numbers for one of the lower tier prizes is more common.
Players can select their own numbers using a play slip at a lottery retailer, or go with the Quick Pick option to have the numbers randomly generated. Tickets can only be purchased within the state of Pennsylvania. Residents in other states cannot play Match 6.
Potential Reasons for Bucks County Lottery Luck
Lottery officials and number crunchers have debated why certain areas like Bucks County produce more big jackpot winners than others. Here are a few potential contributing factors:
More Ticket Sales
The more lottery tickets sold in a given region, the higher probability one will be a big winner. With a population of over 600,000, Bucks County has Pennsylvania’s third largest county population. The county’s median household income is also well above state and national averages. This results in more disposable income available for entertainment spending like lottery tickets. Even modest per capita ticket sales can add up quickly with that large and affluent of a population base.
Concentration of Retailers
As discussed earlier, Bucks County has a high density of retailers selling PA lottery tickets. This includes convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and pharmacies up and down the county. The wide availability and easy accessibility increases overall ticket sales. More retailers clustered together also leads to some locations emerging as popular lottery outlets. Heavy buyers may habitually visit the same “lucky” store.
Commuter Traffic
While largely suburban, Bucks County’s proximity to Philadelphia results in heavy commuter traffic in and out of the city each weekday. Gas stations, convenience stores, and delis along these routes see a surge in customers during rush hour when commuters may be picking up drinks, gas, and lottery tickets. Some sociologists argue long commutes and frustrating traffic increases the propensity to daydream about lottery winnings.
Repeat Winners
Once an area gains a reputation for producing big winners, more players purchase tickets there in hopes the location will be lucky again. This may become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Bucks County’s history of repeat winners from stores that previously sold jackpot tickets signals this may be a factor.
Pure Coincidence
With Match 6 jackpots won only a couple times a year, hitting twice in the same county could just be coincidental. The 1.2 million to one odds make any single Match 6 win unlikely. Trying to derive broader meaning from a small sample size of winners is dubious. Over the long run, Bucks County’s lottery luck may simply regress to the mean.
Reaction in Newtown
The Newtown community expressed excitement and surprise that their small town sold such an enormous lottery prize. Many residents visited the 7-Eleven location once news spread that it sold the ticket. Customers offered their congratulations to staff and asked questions about exactly when it was sold and who bought it. There is wide speculation about who in the community could be holding a million dollar winning ticket.
The prevailing sentiment around town is wishing the winner well and hoping one of their own hit it big. While the tax revenue would have benefited the entire borough, it is hard to begrudge a potential neighbor striking it rich. The borough will still benefit from the $10,000 retailer bonus. Newtown may also see a short term tourism bump from all the media coverage.
Over the coming weeks, the mystery winner’s identity will be closely watched. For now, the excitement of a small place like Newtown joining the list of PA lottery jackpot locations has an uplifting effect on the town. Residents feel they witnessed a once in a lifetime event in their backyard. The millionaire story and renewed notoriety is a source of civic pride.
Potential Impact on Newtown
It remains to be seen how or if this major lottery prize changes Newtown going forward. Here are some potential impacts:
- Increased lottery ticket sales as locals try to ride the lucky streak
- More visitors checking out the “lucky” 7-Eleven store
- Economic benefits if winner spends locally
- Newfound reputation as a lucky place
- Odds of a future winner decrease as jackpot luck “runs out”
- Overstated supernatural reasons for the win
With such long odds, one big winner does not fundamentally alter the underlying lottery math. Each new drawing and ticket still has the same low probability of hitting the jackpot. But that likely will not stop superstitious players from descending on Newtown in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle twice. Whether the win tangibly shifts the borough’s fortunes long term comes down to where the winner resides and chooses to spend their prize money.
Conclusion
The Pennsylvania Lottery delivered a life-changing prize to one lucky Bucks County resident. Time will tell if the winner comes forward and what impact the $2 million prize has on their life going forward. But for now, the exciting news has captivated the region. It provides a temporary diversion from life’s daily stresses to imagine hitting such a jackpot. While the odds say Newtown is unlikely to sell another major winning ticket soon, you can bet more local players will try their luck chasing the dream.