Lottery News of Upcoming Expiration Spurred Cumberland County Woman to Check Tickets

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/-- Brenda Stover, of New Cumberland, Cumberland County, learned today she is officially the winner of a $400,000 Powerball prize that was set to expire tomorrow.

"My husband saw on the news that there was a $400,000 winner out there from May 28, 2008, and he told me to check my shoe box of old tickets," Stover said. "I matched five-of-five numbers on one ticket, but I didn't realize it was the one they were looking for."

Stover took her winning ticket, which she thought warranted a $100,000 prize, to a local Lottery retailer on May 22. The retailer informed Stover the ticket was worth $400,000, and then mailed the claim to Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County. The claim arrived at Lottery headquarters this morning and was validated this afternoon, after Lottery examined the ticket and executed proprietary security measures.

Stover's ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 10-18-22-37-45, for a $200,000 prize, and because the ticket was purchased with the PowerPlay option, the multiplier for that evening's drawing -- two -- doubled the prize to $400,000, less 25 percent federal withholding.

The winning ticket was sold at Karns Foods, 4870 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. The store will receive a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Lottery officials announced on May 14 that the unclaimed $400,000 prize from the May 28, 2008, Powerball drawing would expire May 28, 2009, one year from the Powerball drawing date, unless it was claimed.

How to play Powerball: To play Powerball, players pay $1 and select five white balls from the first set of 59 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 39 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball play slip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize.

Powerball features an option called PowerPlay. For an extra $1 per Powerball play (game), players can multiply their Powerball prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times the original prize amount for all prizes EXCEPT the jackpot. Prizes can multiply up to $1 million.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception 37 years ago, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $18.3 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transit; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term care services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including more than 600 full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Lottery, visit www.palottery.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Brenda Stover declined participating in a check presentation or public event recognizing her win.

    CONTACT: Stephanie Weyant    (717) 787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery