20 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • MAY/JUNE 2022 POWERBALL® celebrated its 30th anniversary this past spring! Ticket sales began on April 19, 1992 for the game’s first drawing held on April 22, 1992. Over the past three decades, Powerball has produced some of the biggest jackpots in lottery history and generated more than $27 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries. To mark the 30-year milestone, MUSL wanted to pay tribute to the lotteries and players who have joined Powerball on its journey and transformed America’s Game into the worldrenowned powerhouse it is today. MUSL Director of Draws and Production Sue Dooley loads the machines for the Powerball drawing held on her wedding day, May 8, 1993. South Carolina launched Powerball in 2002 with a “PowerBug” contest. A red VW bug filled with red and white ping pong balls toured the state. The person who guessed closest to the correct number of balls won the car. There were 17,166 ping pong balls inside, the winner missed by only six balls. Powerball Instant Millionaire was one of two Powerball-based game shows that featured lottery players in the early 2000’s. In October 2005, the West and Chaney families of Southern Oregon won what was then, the largest jackpot ever won - $340 million! Members of both families attended a press event at Oregon Lottery offices in Salem. “Don’t belittle Powerball … it’s always big!” A Minnesota Lottery campaign launched in 2002 reminded players that the jackpot is always big. A group of eight coworkers at the ConAgra Foods ham and corned beef plant in Lincoln, Nebraska won a record $365 million jackpot in the Feb. 18, 2006 Powerball drawing. Former New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director Rick Wisler stands out the retailer that sold the jackpot-winning ticket from May 15, 2002 Powerball drawing. The North Carolina Education Lottery launches a hot air balloon over the Raleigh claim center to commemorate the start of Powerball sales in the state on May 30, 2006. Kentucky’s first Powerball winner Brenda Knopp smiles for the camera after winning a $64.2 million jackpot in the April 20, 1994 drawing. A group of co-workers became the South Dakota Lottery’s first Powerball jackpot winners in February 2003. The Watertown 34 split the $101.8 million jackpot with an Indiana player, taking the $27.4 million cash option for their half of the jackpot. Louisiana joined Powerball in 1995. To mark the occasion, the Lottery sponsored the longest parade called "As Big As It Gets." The Powerball float visited 55 cities and towns and travelled over 1,500 miles making it the world's longest parade. Long-time draw show host Mike Pace on the set of the Powerball drawing in 2005. At the time, the Power Play multiplier was selected by a wheel during the broadcast. MUSLNEWS MULTI -STATE LOTTERY ASSOCIATION POWERBALL 30 YEARS IN 30 SNAPSHOTS 1. 7. 2. 8. 3. 9. 4. 10. 5. 11. 6. 12.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4MTM=