Record Powerball jackpot boosts Ore. Lottery sales

Like much of the nation, players in Oregon eagerly bought tickets for a chance to win last Saturday’s $590 million jackpot, an all-time Powerball record.

While Oregon could not boast having the winner of the record jackpot (won in Florida), Oregon Lottery sales for the week ending May 18 were among the highest the Lottery has ever had.

For the week of May 12-18, the Lottery’s overall sales were over $27.1 million, the fifth highest in Lottery history. Other sales highs for that week include the fourth highest total Traditional Lottery game sales of over $12.7 million, as well as the third highest Powerball sales week of over $6.8 million.

During that same week, Oregon Lottery Powerball players had some fun having bought 75,263 winning tickets that amounted to $523,263 in prizes. Among those prize winners were four $10,000 winners, one $40,000 winner and thousands of lower tier prize winners.

“Large jackpots like this always catch the public and media’s attention,” said Lottery Director Larry Niswender. “And when that happens, sales increase and that, in turn, helps increase Lottery revenues. Those revenues are used throughout the state in our public schools, job creation, state parks, and watersheds.”

On the heels of the record Powerball jackpot, for a limited time the Lottery is offering Powerball players an opportunity to get a free Mega Millions ticket. While the Powerball jackpot has now reset to $40 million, until the next Powerball drawing on Wednesday, May 22, when Powerball players buy a single $2 or $3 Powerball ticket only, they will automatically receive a free Mega Millions ticket.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned over $8 billion for economic development, public education, state parks and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org