Eager to retire early? Idaho Lottery game to feature pair of million-dollar winners

Have you ever dreamed of winning the lottery? Well, this year your chances went up ever so slightly when it comes to a big prize.

Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson said he “personally guarantee(s)” that the chances of having a million-dollar ticket is “better than ever,” according to a news release from the agency. Idaho Lottery is kicking off the 17th annual Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle on Saturday, and this year there will be two winners rather than one.

“The Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle has produced one Idaho Lottery millionaire every year for the last sixteen years,” Anderson said in the news release. “This year, we will have two ... guaranteed!”

Lottery officials are also increasing the number of tickets available to 450,000, for sale at $10 apiece. Last year, they sold 250,000 tickets, spokesperson David Workman told the Idaho Statesman by email. The tickets will go on sale starting at 4 a.m. Mountain time Saturday.

“Once the tickets are gone, they’re gone,” the news release said. Tickets went quicker than ever last year, selling out in 22 days, the release said.

There are also an additional 17,8000 prizes — ranging from $15 to $10,000 — that will be available throughout the raffle. Every day for the first 15 days, a random winner will be chosen to get $1,000, the release said. Another $1,000 will be given to the players who purchase ticket numbers 25,000, 50,000, 75,000, 100,000, 125,000, 150,000, 200,000, 225,000, 250,000, 275,000, 300,000, 325,000, 350,000, 375,000, 400,000, 425,000 and 450,000.

Anyone who wins one of the $1,000 prizes needs to claim their money at the Idaho Lottery office, which is located at 1199 Shoreline Lane, Suite 100, in Boise. The tickets technically will be on sale until 11:59 p.m. Mountain time Dec. 26, but history shows they’ll be sold out long before then.

“Remember, just one ticket is all it takes to win,” Anderson said in the release.