News writer, Interviewer
Lightning struck twice in Minnesota this spring. But this time, it hit a tiny fishing town.
A $1,161,960 Gopher 5 jackpot winner emerged from Finlayson last night. The winning ticket was sold at Petry's Bait Company on Highway 18. Talk about the catch of the day.
When bait shops become gold mines
Petry's Bait Company earned a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. That's not bad for a store that probably sees more minnows than millionaires. The winning numbers from June 11 were 6-28-29-37-40. Someone in this small Minnesota town is waking up to a completely different life today.
Minnesota's hot streak continues
This marks Minnesota's second million-dollar Gopher 5 win in just two months. Back in April, a Kwik Trip in Woodbury sold a $1,015,162 jackpot winner. What's behind this sudden surge? Pure chance, or are Minnesotans getting luckier?
The odds haven't changed. Gopher 5 jackpot odds remain 1 in 1,533,939. But sometimes the stars align, and small towns hit big.
Privacy protects the winner
Here's what we won't know: the winner's name. Minnesota law changed in 2021. Prize winners above $10,000 can now remain anonymous unless they choose otherwise. Smart policy. Who wants reporters camping outside their door after hitting the jackpot?
The winner has one full year to claim their prize at Minnesota Lottery headquarters in Roseville. No rush, but don't forget.
Gopher 5 basics
This Minnesota-only game costs just $1 per ticket. Jackpots start at $100,000 and grow until someone wins. Drawings happen three times weekly: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tickets must be purchased by 6:10 p.m. on drawing days. Friday's jackpot resets to an estimated $100,000. The cycle begins again.
Small towns, big dreams
Finlayson joins the ranks of unexpected lottery hotspots. Population doesn't determine luck. Sometimes the smallest places produce the biggest winners. Will Petry's Bait Company see more lottery traffic now? Probably. Nothing draws customers like a million-dollar success story. The Minnesota Lottery has generated over $4 billion since 1990. Those funds support environmental programs, education, public safety, and health services.
Not every ticket wins. But every purchase contributes to Minnesota's future.
Today, one person in Finlayson discovered their financial future changed overnight. Tomorrow, it could be anyone, anywhere. The next drawing is Friday, June 13, at 6:17 p.m. CT.
Who knows where lightning will strike next?
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