Two Utah residents pulled into a Shell station just over the Idaho line and drove away a whole lot richer. Michael Barnhart and Donna Ellis of Logan matched all five numbers in the May 19 Idaho Cash drawing and are splitting a $244,305 prize. The winning lineup: 2, 6, 17, 21 and 33.
Border Run Turns Into Big Win
Barnhart and Ellis bought their lucky ticket at the Shell gas station at 2 South State St. in Franklin, according to lottery officials, as reported by the Idaho Statesman. Franklin sits in southeastern Idaho near the Utah border, a regular stop for shoppers from Logan and elsewhere in Cache Valley who hop across state lines for gas and groceries.
The pair will share the Idaho Cash jackpot once taxes and withholdings are taken out, the Idaho Statesman reports.
How Idaho Cash Works
The Idaho Lottery lists the May 19 Idaho Cash winning numbers as 2, 6, 17, 21 and 33 and notes that Idaho Cash gives players two plays for $1, with drawings held daily at 8:00 p.m. MT, according to the Idaho Lottery. The jackpot starts at $20,000 and grows until someone hits all five numbers.
Match four numbers and the payout is $200, match three and it is $5. The overall odds of winning any prize in the game are about 1 in 5.7, per the Idaho Lottery.
Claiming The Cash
The lottery’s claim rules say prizes up to $599 can be redeemed at authorized retailers, while prizes of $600 or more require a claim form, and larger jackpots must be claimed in person at Idaho Lottery headquarters. For the fine print on collecting winnings, see the Idaho Lottery.
For anyone whose gambling stops being fun and starts feeling like a problem, the National Council on Problem Gambling runs the National Problem Gambling Helpline and other support resources. Details and local referrals are available through the National Council on Problem Gambling.
