The Powerball lottery is a popular multi-state lottery game in the United States. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association and drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday night. The Powerball game is played in 45 states, including Idaho, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million. Since the Idaho Lottery began offering Powerball in 1995, there have been several notable jackpot wins in the state over the years.
Notable Powerball Jackpot Wins in Idaho
Here is an overview of the biggest Powerball jackpot wins in Idaho history:
October 2018 – $220 Million
In October 2018, an Idaho resident won half of a $440 million Powerball jackpot. The ticket was sold at a gas station in Meridian. The winner chose to remain anonymous and take the lump sum cash option of $220 million. At the time, it was the fourth largest Powerball jackpot ever won on a single ticket.
January 2016 – $128 Million
In January 2016, a woman from Star, Idaho won $128 million from a Powerball drawing. The 37-year-old winner purchased the lucky quick pick ticket at an Albertsons grocery store. She opted for the lump sum payment of $88.5 million. At the time, it was the second biggest Powerball prize ever won in Idaho.
August 2012 – $30.8 Million
In August 2012, a couple from Post Falls won half of a $60 million Powerball jackpot. The husband had purchased five quick pick tickets at a convenience store and gave them to his wife as a gift. When they realized they had won, the shocked couple said they had no immediate plans for the $30.8 million cash prize.
May 2005 – $16.5 Million
In May 2005, a man from Caldwell won $16.5 million with a Powerball ticket he purchased at a gas station. The 57-year-old winner was employed as a truck driver at the time. He opted for the lump sum payment of $10.3 million. The man said he planned to continue working despite the big win.
January 2004 – $16.5 Million
In January 2004, a couple from the small town of Kamiah hit a $33 million Powerball jackpot. The wife happened to buy a ticket while grocery shopping and ended up matching all five white balls plus the Powerball. The shocked couple split the jackpot 50-50 with another winner in West Virginia, each collecting $16.5 million in lump sum cash.
Notable Jackpot Wins by Idaho Residents in Other States
Idaho residents have sometimes driven across state lines and won big Powerball prizes in neighboring lottery states:
May 2013 – $190 Million in Oregon
In May 2013, an Idaho man drove to Oregon and purchased a Powerball ticket that ended up winning a $190 million jackpot. It was the largest lottery prize ever won by an Idaho resident at the time. The 57-year-old man opted for the lump sum payment of $119.5 million and said he planned to retire early following his amazing win.
August 2007 – $314 Million in Utah
In August 2007, a couple from the southeast Idaho town of Menan won half of a $340 million Powerball jackpot in Utah. The husband made a habit of purchasing tickets every week and their winning ticket ended up matching all five numbers plus the Powerball. They took the $156.4 million cash option on their share of the prize.
January 2006 – $254 Million in Utah
In January 2006, a man from southeast Idaho won half of a record $365 million Powerball jackpot purchased in Utah. The winner decided to remain anonymous and claimed his $114.5 million lump sum payment through a limited liability company. At the time, it was the biggest lottery prize ever won by an Idahoan.
Powerball Winners by Idaho County
At least one major Powerball jackpot has been won by residents of the following Idaho counties since the game began in 1995:
Idaho County | Notable Powerball Wins |
---|---|
Ada County | $220 million (2018) |
Blaine County | $16.5 million (2004) |
Canyon County | $16.5 million (2005) |
Elmore County | $156 million (2007, won in Utah) |
Kootenai County | $30.8 million (2012) |
Owyhee County | $190 million (2013, won in Oregon) |
Ada County in southwestern Idaho is home to the state capital Boise and has seen the biggest Powerball jackpots won by residents. However, relative to population size, some of Idaho’s least populated counties like Camas County, Clark County, and Butte County have yet to have any notable Powerball winners.
Biggest Powerball Jackpots Won in Idaho
Here is a quick summary of the top 3 biggest Powerball prizes ever collected by Idaho winners:
1. $220 million – October 2018
Won by a resident of Meridian who purchased the lucky ticket at a local gas station.
2. $156 million – August 2007
Won by a couple from Menan who bought the winning ticket across the border in Utah.
3. $128 million – January 2016
Won by a woman in Star who purchased a quick pick ticket at an Albertsons store.
Unclaimed Powerball Prizes in Idaho
Despite the many big winners, there have also been several notable unclaimed Powerball prizes in Idaho over the years:
$1 Million Unclaimed in 2009
In 2009, a $1 million winning Powerball ticket was sold at a Maverik gas station in Caldwell but went unclaimed before expiring. The winner missed out on a $710,000 lump sum payment. Lottery officials were surprised the prize was not collected within the required time period.
$50,000 Unclaimed in 2020
In early 2020, a Powerball ticket worth $50,000 expired after it was sold at a gas station in Hayden Lake and never claimed. Surveillance footage showed an elderly woman had purchased the ticket but she apparently failed to check the winning numbers in time.
$10,000 Unclaimed in 2021
In 2021, a $10,000 Powerball prize went unclaimed following a drawing the previous year. The winning ticket was sold at a WinCo Foods in Twin Falls. Idaho Lottery officials said they were unable to track down the winner before the one-year deadline to claim the prize.
$2 Million Set to Expire in 2023
As of October 2023, there is an unclaimed $2 million Powerball prize set to expire within the next few months if the winner does not come forward in time. The valuable ticket was sold in September 2022 at an Albertsons in Pocatello. Lottery officials are hopeful the winner will realize their ticket hit the jackpot before the expiration date.
Probability of Winning Powerball in Idaho
The odds of winning any Powerball prize in Idaho are about 1 in 24.9. However, the chances of taking home the jackpot are much slimmer at around 1 in 292 million. Here is a breakdown of the probability for each prize level in the game:
Powerball Prize | Odds of Winning |
---|---|
Match 5 White Balls | 1 in 11,688,054 |
Match 4 White Balls + Powerball | 1 in 913,129 |
Match 4 White Balls | 1 in 36,525 |
Match 3 White Balls + Powerball | 1 in 14,494 |
Match 3 White Balls | 1 in 580 |
Match 2 White Balls + Powerball | 1 in 701 |
Match 1 White Ball + Powerball | 1 in 92 |
Match Powerball | 1 in 38 |
As you can see, the chances of winning even a small prize are quite low. A player has the best odds of matching just the Powerball for a $4 prize or matching a single number plus the Powerball to win $4.
How to Play Powerball in Idaho
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play in Idaho. Players first select five numbers between 1 and 69 for the white balls. Then they choose one Powerball number between 1 and 26.
The Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday night at 8:59 p.m. Mountain Time. To win the rolling jackpot, a player must match all five white balls plus the red Powerball.
Tickets can be purchased at over 1,000 authorized retailers around Idaho. Some important things to remember include:
- Players must be at least 18 years old to purchase tickets.
- Powerball tickets cannot be canceled and all sales are final.
- Tickets must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date.
- Jackpot annuity payments are made over 30 graduated payments.
- Taxes are withheld from prizes before winners receive payment.
Some people prefer to join an office or lottery pool to share the cost of tickets for a chance at winning. But it is important for groups to have a formal written agreement on how to claim and divide any prizes won.
Players also have the option to buy tickets good for up to 10 consecutive draws. Some players utilize the “quick pick” method to have the lottery terminal randomly select their numbers rather than personally choosing them.
Biggest Powerball Jackpots in History
Here is a quick look at the top 10 biggest Powerball jackpots won to date:
Rank | Jackpot Amount | Winner Location | Drawing Date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $1.586 billion | California, Florida, Tennessee | January 2016 |
2 | $768.4 million | Wisconsin | March 2019 |
3 | $758.7 million | Massachusetts | August 2017 |
4 | $731.1 million | Maryland | January 2021 |
5 | $699.8 million | California | October 2015 |
6 | $687.8 million | Iowa and New York | October 2018 |
7 | $632.6 million | California, Wisconsin | January 2022 |
8 | $590.5 million | Florida | May 2013 |
9 | $587.5 million | Arizona, Missouri | November 2012 |
10 | $564.1 million | North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas | February 2015 |
As you can see, a handful of jackpots have surpassed $700 million, with the current record sitting at over $1.5 billion. Idaho’s biggest Powerball prize of $220 million currently ranks at #150 on the list of highest Powerball jackpots of all-time.
Biggest Lottery Jackpots Ever Won in Idaho
While the Powerball lottery has produced several notable Idaho winners, a few other lottery games have also created big winners in the state:
Hot Lotto – $9.41 Million
In April 2010, an Idaho resident hit a $19 million Hot Lotto jackpot, taking home a $9.41 million lump sum payment. The lucky ticket was sold at a convenience store in the town of Paul. Hot Lotto was a multi-state lottery game played in 14 states before ending in 2017.
Wild Card 2 – $3.74 Million
In January 2007, an Idaho man from Hailey won half of a $7.48 million Wild Card 2 jackpot. The winner purchased the lucky ticket at a gas station while driving through Twin Falls. Wild Card 2 was an Idaho-only lottery game that ended in 2013.
Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle – $1 Million
The Idaho Lottery has held an annual $1,000,000 Raffle drawing since 2011. These limited ticket raffles have created several instant Idaho millionaires, including winners from Meridian, Boise, and most recently Eagle in 2022.
Lucky for Life – $25,000 a Year for Life
In 2016, an Idaho woman won $25,000 a year for life by matching 5 numbers in the Lucky for Life multistate game. Lucky for Life has created several other winners of $1,000 to $25,000 a week in the state over the years.
Where Idaho Lottery Revenue Goes
The Idaho Lottery generates millions of dollars in annual revenue that goes to support various state causes and programs. By law, Idaho Lottery proceeds must be distributed as follows:
- 50% – Dividend Fund for Public Schools
- 12% – Permanent Building Fund
- 10% – Bond Levy Equalization Fund
- 8% – Idaho Dept. of Parks and Recreation
- 5% – Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game
- 1% – Idaho Council on Domestic Violence
Since the Idaho Lottery began in 1989, over $983 million has gone to support Idaho public schools. Other beneficiaries like state parks and wildlife conservation have received over $200 million. While Powerball contributes a significant amount of revenue, other Idaho Lottery games also help raise funds for these important causes.
Key Facts About the Idaho Lottery
Here are some quick facts to summarize the Idaho Lottery’s operations:
- Started in 1989 after voter approval
- Member of the Multi-State Lottery Association since 1990
- Powerball began in Idaho in 1995
- Participates in these multi-state games: Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, Lotto America
- Generates approximately $55 million in annual revenue
- Sales top $250 million per year
- Returns about $30 million per year to education
- Has created over 675 lottery millionaires
- Drawings are streamed live on the Idaho Lottery website
- Winners can remain anonymous for prizes over $600
While playing the lottery is certainly not a reliable strategy for getting rich, Powerball and other Idaho Lottery games have created significant winnings for hundreds of lucky residents over the years. And the revenue generated benefits important public causes that help communities around the state.
Conclusion
In summary, while the chances are extremely low, buying a Powerball ticket provides Idaho players an opportunity to win massive fortunes. Since the game began in 1995, numerous residents have claimed jackpot prizes ranging from $16 million up to a record $220 million. Winners have come from counties all across the state. In addition to creating hundreds of millionaires, Powerball helps generate significant funding for Idaho public schools, parks, and other programs. While the odds are astronomical, a single Powerball ticket purchase could lead to life-changing riches for the very lucky few Idaho players who match the right numbers.