BOISE, Idaho – Get your lucky tickets ready Idaho, the national draw show for America’s most popular lottery game, Powerball, is coming to the Gem State to commemorate the Idaho Lottery’s 25th Anniversary!
On its anniversary night, Saturday, July 19, 2014, the Idaho Lottery will host the Multi-State Lottery Association’s LIVE Powerball draw television show from Ford Arena at the Idaho Center during the last night of the Snake River Stampede Rodeo.
“Idaho has a long history of player luck with Powerball. Celebrating our 25th Anniversary by hosting the national Powerball draw show is a once in a lifetime opportunity and an honor to spotlight our State on a national level,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director and the national Powerball Game Group Chairman.
In addition to the nationally televised show, the Idaho Lottery will also host a free Player Appreciation Celebration outside the Idaho Center prior to the rodeo that evening. The community event will feature three-time Grammy nominee and country recording artist Tim Rushlow, presented by 100.7 The Bull. Rushlow is the former lead-singer for the popular ‘90’s country band Little Texas. In addition, there will be Double R Ranch hot dogs courtesy of Albertsons, swing and line dancing, and lottery drawings for great prizes including a Rushlow autographed guitar. The event begins on July 19th at 3 p.m. prior to the rodeo.
“We say that every play pays in Idaho. Whenever you play the Lottery someone is winning, whether it is our retailers who earn commissions, players who win prizes, or, most importantly, our good causes who benefit – Idaho public schools and the permanent buildings of the State,” added Anderson. “This signature is event is our thank you for twenty-five years of continued support in making Idaho the best Lottery in the nation.”
Idaho received national accolades this spring as the best Lottery in the nation, receiving the Sharon Sharp Award for Good Causes, an award that recognizes the lottery which achieved the highest percentage increase in net funds contributed to its beneficiaries.
The main event for the night is the live, national Powerball draw show, which is typically broadcast from Tallahassee, Florida on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Live remote Powerball draws do not occur with any regularity, in fact there have only been five total in the last five years. Powerball is the largest, most well-known lottery game in North America. It is played in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands. Idaho will host the first live remote Powerball draw held outside either Florida or California in the past 5 years with one of the largest, non-NASCAR audiences to watch the draw in person at the Idaho Center.
As a Lottery jurisdiction, Idaho has consistently placed among the nation’s luckiest States per capita to win a $1,000,000 or higher Powerball prize, ranking 1st in FY2011 and currently 4th in FY2014.
“Everyone who attends the rodeo that evening, or who plays Powerball in Idaho will want to have at least one ticket for the drawing, just to be a part of this historic event,” said Anderson. “And who knows, we could have a big winner from the draw that evening.”
The draw occurs at 8:59 p.m. MT and can be seen LIVE on KTVB 24/7 in the greater Treasure Valley and Magic Valley areas, KPVI – Channel 6 in eastern Idaho, and KLEW – Channel 3 in northern Idaho. For exact broadcast times in local areas, check the Idaho Lottery’s website at: http://www.idaholottery.com/games/draw/schedule.aspx.
