SACRAMENTO, August 25, 2004 -- California Lottery officials announced Wednesday’s SuperLOTTO Plus jackpot at $77 million as the phenomenon of Lotto Fever spread throughout the state. “We’re currently on target for a $77 million jackpot, giving all Californians a shot at the gold,” said Dennis Sequeira, Interim Director of the California State Lottery. “It’s the largest jackpot in the nation with a “gold rush” in full swing as players line-up to buy tickets for tonight’s SuperLotto Plus draw.”
California’s public schools and businesses will receive a portion of the windfall from this jackpot. The State’s public schools will receive more than $46 million from the draw sales associated with this jackpot. The retailer who sells a single winning $77 million ticket would receive a $385,000 bonus.
A single jackpot winner of $77 million who chooses the 26 graduated annual payments would receive approximately $1.9 million the first year and those payments would graduate to $3.9 million by the 26th year (before taxes). A single jackpot winner who chooses the cash option would receive the estimated cash value which is roughly half the announced jackpot or $38.5 million (before a 25% federal withholding). Last August, Patricia Frierson of Carson beat the odds of one in 41 million and won a $91 million jackpot giving true meaning to the title “Lady Luck”.
SuperLOTTO Plus can be played at approximately 18,000 retail business establishments statewide. The SuperLOTTO Plus draw takes place each Wednesday and Saturday night at 7:58 p.m. Players can purchase tickets until 7:45 p.m. on the night of the draw.
- # # # -