Pennsylvania Lottery Names First Instant Lottery Game Winner

PENNSYLVANIA – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Amy Holmes, 44, of Thompson, Susquehanna County, is the first winner of the $1 million top prize in the Pennsylvania Lottery's $1 MILLION BLOCKBUSTER instant game.

Lottery Deputy Executive Director for Operations Tom Blaskiewicz and Area Manager Pat Loughney today presented Holmes with a check for $1 million, less 25 percent federal withholding. The check presentation took place at the store where Holmes purchased the top prize-winning ticket, Arlo's Country Store, located at the intersection of Rt. 171 and Twp. Rd. 726 in Ararat Township. AJ Gallagher and Frank Freno, owners and managing partners of Arlo's, hosted the celebration.

Holmes purchased her winning ticket on August 25, and scratched it off at home. In disbelief of the $1 million prize she saw under the number 22 - the one she matched to the winning numbers - Holmes immediately called her mother, Shirley. She then took the ticket to her parents for evaluation.

Holmes arrived back at her house just as her husband, Sam, was returning from putting a down payment on a used Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

"Wouldn't you rather have a new one of those?" Holmes teased, before sharing the news of her win with her husband. Neither Amy nor Sam completely believed her luck until she took the ticket to Arlo's that evening for validation.

Holmes said the couple plans to invest most of her winnings and use a portion to pay off their home. The Holmes plan to indulge in a few special splurges, including a new Harley for Sam, a trip to Vegas (Holmes' lifelong dream) and a new car.

Steven - Amy and Sam's 17-year-old son - just got his driver's license and will inherit his mother's old car as a result of her good fortune. Holmes says her win will also enable their other son, 13-year-old Matthew, to "move up in go-cart competitions."

$1 MILLION BLOCKBUSTER is a $20 game with a top prize of $1 million cash. Four top prizes remain in this instant game. There are 20 chances to win on each ticket, and overall odds of winning a prize are 1-in-3.24.

Win the prize shown under the matching number when any of YOUR NUMBERS match any of the WINNING NUMBERS. A STAR symbol wins the prize shown under it automatically; a "GOLD BAR" symbol doubles the prize shown under the matching symbol; a "5X" symbol automatically wins five times the prize shown under it.

The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only state Lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception 32 years ago, the Lottery has contributed more than $13.8 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transit; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including 650 full- and part-time senior centers throughout Pennsylvania. The Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Lottery, visit the Lottery's Web site, http://www.palottery.com.