FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

CONTACT: David Workman         

(208) 334-2600          

Lottery Announces 2009 Idaho-only Raffle Game

Guaranteed $1,000,000 Top Prize

Boise – The wait is almost over and the countdown is on!  The Idaho Lottery is counting down to Halloween when tickets will go on sale for the third annual Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle – the popular Idaho-only draw game guaranteed to make one lucky player a millionaire before New Year’s Eve. The Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle will officially kick-off sales at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, October 31, 2009 – Halloween.  Just like the two previous editions of this popular game, tickets will cost $10 each and the Idaho Lottery will only issue 250,000.

“This game is very popular with our players. Each of the past two years, the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle has sold out prior to the winning numbers announcement,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director.  “We’ve received hundreds of emails and phone calls since the 2008 game ended asking when we would offer it again. For everyone who has been patiently waiting, you only have to wait ten more days.”

This year’s total prizes have expanded nearly 50% over last year’s game.  In addition to the top prize of $1,000,000, the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle also offers four $10,000 prizes, sixty $1,000 prizes, one thousand $100 prizes and two thousand $50 prizes.

As an Idaho-only game, Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle tickets are only available for sale through Idaho Lottery retail locations. This game is not sold in any other state, however, players do not need to be Idaho residents to play or win. The odds of winning $1,000,000 remains the same at one in 250,000, the best ever offered by the Idaho Lottery for a seven-figure prize. Tickets will be issued sequentially from 000,001 through 250,000.  No additional tickets will be issued once all 250,000 are sold. 

“This game always sells out early. When the tickets are gone, they’re gone,” added Anderson. “At the request of our players, we have also expanded the total number of prizes offered with this year’s game.”

This year’s winning numbers announcement for the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle will take place at 9:59 p.m. Mountain Time on December 30, 2009.  The first year’s game sold out in less than 36 days and last year’s game sold out in just 53 days.  Lottery officials reminded players to play the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle responsibly. Anderson also encouraged players to sign the back of their ticket once it has been purchased and to keep it in a safe place until the Lottery announces the winners on December 30, 2009.

Players can check just how much time remains before Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle tickets go on sale by visiting the official Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle countdown clock at: www.idaholottery.com/idahoraffle

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ABOUT THE IDAHO LOTTERY

The Idaho Lottery responsibly provides a variety of entertaining games featuring Powerball, Scratch™ tickets, and PullTabs with a high degree of integrity to maximize the dividend for Idaho public schools and the permanent building fund. Since it’s inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has sold more than $1.8 billion in products, awarded over $1.1 billion in prizes to players, returned more than $108 million in retail commissions, and distributed more than $437 million in Lottery dividends to state public schools and buildings. To learn more, please visit www.idaholottery.com.