18 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 For the fourth consecutive year, Powerball® celebrated the New Year with a $1 million drawing on ABC’s live broadcast of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. For the first time since the inaugural event in 2019, 142 Powerball players and guests returned to New York City for a VIP experience, capped off by an exclusive New Year’s Eve gala in Times Square and the $1 million drawing. 29 lotteries participated in the national Powerball promotion, with each sending a finalist to NYC for a chance at the $1 million prize. Shortly after the ball dropped in Times Square, Ryan Seacrest and Jessie James Decker announced Gary Krigbaum of North Carolina as the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year. n MUSLNEWS MULTI -STATE LOTTERY ASSOCIATION Powerball took over the 9th floor of the NewYork Marriott Marquis in Times Square for a private welcome dinner. Players and guests enjoyed cuisine inspired by iconic NewYork City neighborhoods, live entertainment, and an on-site portrait artist. Mangiamo! The Powerball VIPs dined on classic Italian at iconic Carmine’s before taking in a Broadway performance. Powerball players had a choice to see several Broadway performances, many choosing to see Phantom of the Opera and the Lion King. Places for rehearsal! The $1 million finalists and their guests participated in two show rehearsals prior to the live broadcast on NewYear’s Eve. Finalists for the $1 million prize and their guests were seated at state-branded tables surrounding the Powerball stage. MUSL sourced new ball sets with postal abbreviations from Smartplay International for the final two drawings of the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year promotion.
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