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Friday, March 29, 2024

70-year-old Pasco County woman scores $2 million Powerball prize

A 70-year-old woman claimed a $2 million prize from the Florida Lottery Powerball drawing held Oct. 17.

Alberta McPherson, of Hudson, purchased the winning ticket matching all five of the white ball numbers, but she did not match the Powerball.

Alberta McPherson, 70, of Hudson, poses with a family member and an oversized check after claiming a $2 million prize in the Oct. 17 Powerball drawing.

McPherson purchased her winning Quick Pick ticket from Winn Dixie, located at 14134 U.S. 19 North in Hudson. The retailer will receive a $5,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.

The next Powerball drawing will be held Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 10:59 p.m., with an estimated $620 million jackpot. National Powerball drawings are broadcast live from the Florida Lottery’s draw studio in Tallahassee. Drawings also are available for viewing on the Florida Lottery website. Winning numbers are available on the Lottery website, at retailers statewide and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY.

Since Florida joined Powerball in 2009, the game has generated $1.8 billion in contributions to education statewide. Florida is among the top-selling Powerball states, with more than 85.6 million winning tickets totaling more than $2.3 billion in prizes – including 12 jackpot winners.

Florida also was one of the three states nationally to have a winner share in the world-record-setting $1.59 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016.

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $34 billion to education and sending more than 808,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $61.2 billion in prizes and made more than 2,000 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.flalottery.com.