19 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 A team of professional hair and makeup artists were on hand to get the Powerball players camera ready for the big show. The so-called “glam appointments” were a big hit with both women and men. Event producers at PRA transformed the 5th floor ballroom at the Marriott Marquis to host the NewYear’s Eve gala, adjacent to the Powerball stage. The Powerball stage from the 2019 set was adapted to the new venue and expanded to fit Ryan Seacrest, Jessie James Decker and the top five $1 million finalists. The finalists take their seats ahead of the first drawing to determine the top five advancing to the $1 million drawing. Ryan Seacrest was rushed from his stage in Times Square to the Powerball stage to help announce the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year. MUSL teammembers: J. Bret Toyne, Executive Director; Sue Dooley, Director of Draws & Productions; Anna Domoto, Senior Communications Manager; and Barb Niccum, Project Manager. Sue Dooley, MUSL Director of Draws and Productions, and Alexi Mazareas, Vice President Programming & Development, dick clark productions. The top five finalists included Powerball players fromMinnesota, North Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, and Maine. A Powerball proposal! Minnesota Lottery finalist Jared Jank proposed to his girlfriend Alicia during the NewYear’s Eve festivities. Jank later went viral during the broadcast for his signature mullet. Powerball co-host Jessie James Decker interviewed the top five finalists ahead of the $1 million drawing. The Powerball First Millionaire of the Year is…North Carolina! Gary Krigbaum was named the $1 million winner shortly after midnight EST on January 1. Krigbaum’s daughter, Sarah Day, represented him at the event. Guests hit the dance floor in-between the five Powerball segments throughout the New Year’s Eve broadcast. Drew & Gretchen Svitko, Jim Acton, lottery consultant for dick clark productions Drew Svitko, Powerball Product Group Chair & Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director; David Barden, MUSL Board President & New Mexico Lottery CEO; Rebecca Paul, MUSL Marketing & Promotions Committee Chair & Tennessee Lottery Executive Director; Gregg Edgar, MUSL Marketing & Promotions Committee Vice Chair & Arizona Lottery Executive Director; J. Bret Toyne, MUSL Executive Director.
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