Lansing, Michigan woman wins $1 million playing Powerball
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A husband and wife had some delayed gratification when they forgot to check a Powerball ticket earlier this month.
“Me and my husband buy a Powerball ticket for every drawing, and we always knew we would win big,” said Ana Elizalde. “I purchased a Powerball ticket as usual, and I gave it to my husband to hold on to. A week after the drawing my husband found the ticket in his coat pocket and realized we had never checked it.
“We went to the store to scan it and got a message to file a claim. When we checked the numbers online and realized we’d won $1 million, we were in shock! We always had a feeling this day would come and now that it’s here, it feels surreal.”
Ana purchased the winning Powerball ticket Feb. 6 at Sav-Way Food Center in Lansing.
While Elizalde's ticket wasn't the $754.6 million winner sold in Washington on the same day, the couple was obviously elated. When Elizalde visited the lottery headquarters to claim her prize she told officials she plans to pay bills, pay for her children's education and save the remainder.
Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, along with Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Powerball drawings are held three times a week and the progressive jackpot grows until someone matches five white balls and the Powerball to claim the grand prize.
If someone gambles more than they can afford, they might have a gambling problem.
The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700. The network is a single national access point to local resources for those seeking help for a gambling problem. The network consists of 28 call centers that provide resources and referrals for all 50 states, Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Help is available 24/7 and is 100% confidential.
The National Problem Gambling Helpline Network also includes text and chat services. The features enable those who are gambling online or on a mobile phone to access help the same way they play. One call, text or chat will get you to problem gambling help anywhere in the U.S.
Help is also available via an online peer support forum at gamtalk.org.
