RELEASE DATE: 7/29/2015
Middletown, PA – Steven Peloquin, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, today claimed a $91.8 million Mega Millions jackpot from the July 21, 2015, drawing.
It is the second jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket sold by the Pennsylvania Lottery and the fourth-largest prize awarded in the Lottery’s history.
Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko today presented a ceremonial check for $91,781,644.00 to Mr. Peloquin, holder of the single jackpot-winning ticket from that drawing.
The winning ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 20-30-62-65-74, plus the Megaball, 01. The ticket had an annuity value of $153 million or a cash value of $91.8 million, less 25 percent federal withholding.
Peloquin, a professional truck driver for nearly 30 years, purchased the ticket at Penn 80/Flying J Travel Plaza, 1460 N. Ridge Road, Milton, Northumberland County, while traveling through Pennsylvania for work. The plaza, a Lottery retailer since September 2010, earns a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Peloquin didn’t check his ticket for several days.
“I was getting ready to turn in last Saturday night when I went online to check my numbers,” Peloquin said. “Needless to say, I didn’t get to sleep that night.”
He then took a photo of the ticket and shared it with several close relatives, who confirmed that his ticket matched the winning numbers.
Peloquin said the jackpot win will enable him and his wife to retire early and spend more time with their family.
This afternoon, Peloquin presented the Mega Millions ticket for validation at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County. Lottery officials confirmed it was the jackpot-winning ticket after examining the ticket and executing proprietary security measures.
The odds of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot are 1-in-258,890,850. The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1-in-14.71.
The Pennsylvania Lottery joined the Mega Millions multi-state game in early 2010 and has awarded two jackpots for the game. The first was a $149 million annuity value jackpot sold for the May 20, 2014, drawing. It was claimed several months later by a couple from the Pittsburgh area who took the $86.8 million cash prize.
The Pennsylvania Lottery has sold 17 jackpot-winning Powerball tickets since joining that multi-state game in 2002.
The largest prize ever awarded to a single winning ticket in Pennsylvania was a $110.2 million Powerball jackpot cash prize from the May 8, 2004, drawing, which was claimed by a couple from Skillman, N.J.
How to Play Mega Millions: Mega Millions tickets cost $1 per play. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 75 and one number from 1 to 15 (the Mega Ball). Players may select their own numbers using a Mega Millions play slip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. For an extra $1 per play, players can add the Megaplier. Prior to the Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier number – ranging from two to five – is randomly selected. The Megaplier applies to non-jackpot prizes.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights, Tuesdays and Fridays.
About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $25.8 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state.
The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds players to check every ticket, every time. Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-848-1880.
For drawings results, winning numbers, winners’ stories and to subscribe to the Lottery’s RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Like us on Facebook or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery.
A photograph of the winner is available from the Lottery upon request. Mr. Peloquin has declined any further comment to the media regarding his jackpot win.
Media contact: Pennsylvania Lottery, Gary Miller or Allen Zieglar, (717) 702-8008