News writer; Opinion columnist
“Always listen to your mother” was the advice of one Midwest lottery player who took home a big prize after a conversation with her mom inspired her to pick the winning numbers for a multi-million dollar win.
She was the latest big winner for Lotto America, America's newest multi-state draw game, and it never would have happened if it hadn't been for a very fortunate chat.
Happy birthday
The winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, says that her lucky day began when she had a video chat with her mother, during which they discussed different family members' birthdays. She decided to use those dates to fill out one ticket for the April 24 Lotto America drawing, which had a $3.1 million jackpot. She purchased her ticket at Cub Foods in Coon Rapid.
The woman, who is a mother of two herself, couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the winning numbers 7-12-17-22-52 and the Star Ball of 3. She was so happy to win that she cried, and her husband initially thought something was wrong before she shared the big news with him. She said this of her prize:
I've never seen so many zeros before.
She said the first thing she plans to do with her prize money is buy a plane ticket to visit her mother and family in South East Asia. She told state lottery officials:
It's been a long time since I've seen her. I'm looking forward to flying back home. I've got a big family that I haven't seen in more than a decade.
The Cub Foods that sold the winning ticket will also receive a $10,000 sales commission bonus.
Minnesota millions
The North Star State is the place to be if you want to become a Lotto America millionaire. Another Minnesota Lottery player won a $3.73 million jackpot from the March 4 drawing with the numbers 4, 5, 8, 22, 47 and a Star Ball of 6. They also purchased their ticket at Cub Food, which is racking up the bonuses in 2024.
A Minnesota player won the very first Lotto America jackpot when they cashed in a ticket for $22.8 million, which had the winning numbers 8, 21, 38, 50, 51 and Star Ball 4. The winning ticket was purchased at a Holiday gas station in Roseau.
The second Lotto America jackpot ever was also won in Minnesota on July 10, 2019, with a ticket purchased from a Holiday Stationstore in Ramsey. The lucky winner earned $21.6 million by playing the winning numbers 16, 22, 32, 36, 42 and Star Ball 8.
How to play
Lotto America is a multi-state draw game that was relaunched on November 17, 2017, to replace Hot Lotto, which ended after a game rigging scandal caused ticket sales to plummet.
The game is currently available in these 13 states:
- Idaho
- Montana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
- New Mexico
- Maine
- West Virginia
- Deleware
- Tennessee
- Mississippi
Lotto America jackpots are progressive. They start at $2 million and grow after each drawing without a top prize winner. The game costs $1 to play, but players can increase their winnings by spending another dollar for the All-Star Bonus Feature.
With this feature activated, players can multiply all non-jackpot winning prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5, depending on a multiplier number that is randomly selected before each drawing.
To fill out a ticket, players must pick five numbers between one and fifty-two and a Star Ball number between one and ten. Drawings are held three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 25,989,600.00.
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