Arizona ticket wins $15 million prize

PHOENIX, Arizona – (PRESS RELEASE) -- When the Jan. 20 Powerball jackpot climbed to $240 million, Barry Salzman, Henderson, NV, did as he usually does -- crossed the border to purchase a ticket at Boulder Inn (also known as "Rosie's Den"), a little cafe on state Highway 93, 55 miles from Las Vegas.

Salzman didn't win the jackpot, but he did win $10,000 by matching four numbers plus the Powerball. The bad weather put a crimp in his plans to redeem their ticket on Monday, Jan. 15; instead, he and his wife came to Phoenix on Friday, Jan. 20. As they say, timing is everything. When he came to the Lottery's office at 4740 E. University Dr. to collect his $10,000 prize, he bought another Powerball ticket. This time it turned out to be a $15 million jackpot winner from the Saturday, Jan. 27 drawing. So, they were right back in Phoenix yesterday.

"What a great follow-up to the 'Arizona 9' who won half of a $94 million Powerball jackpot in November," said Art Macias, executive director of the Arizona Lottery. "This is the ninth winning Powerball jackpot sold in Arizona, and it is the first time it has been won by someone who doesn't live in Arizona."

Macias also noted that although the winners were from out-of-state, Arizona Powerball ticket sales stay in Arizona and benefit the State General Fund and Mass Transit. During the rollover period when the Powerball jackpot rose to $240 million, Arizona did almost $27 million in sales, which means that we generated over $8.4 million in revenues for the state and paid our retailers over $1.7 million in commissions.

While Salzman and his wife, Barbara, do not live in Arizona, they are frequent travelers to the state. Barbara's business brings her to Phoenix on a regular basis.

Of his winning the Jackpot, Barry said, "You can ask my wife; I really had a gut feeling it was a winning ticket." The Salzmans plan to use their winnings to pay off their house, help their children and make a sizeable donation to some of their favorite charities.

The Salzmans selected the cash option and will receive their check from the Multi State Lottery Association, the governing body for all Powerball members.

Saturday's winning numbers were 10, 19, 26, 27, 32, and the Powerball was 14. There were more than 27,000 Powerball winners in Arizona from Saturday's drawing, all the way from one-ball matches to the grand prize.

Powerball is played in 29 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball tickets for Saturday's drawing can be purchased until 7:59 p.m. on Saturday. The Powerball drawings are broadcast during the 10 p.m. evening news on KNXV Channel 15 in Phoenix and KOLD Channel 13 in Tucson.