US Lotto 'Powerball' Jackpot Reaches Over 800 Billion Won for Four Months... Won at a Convenience Store in a Small Mining Town

The owner of the No. 1 lottery ticket store, Richard Ravenscroft (77, far right), said, "I don't know who the winner is, but I hope it is someone who deserves it."
[Image source = AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] The Powerball lottery in the United States, which had no first-place winner for the past four months causing the jackpot to rise to 800 billion won, finally hit at a convenience store in a small mining town in the U.S.

According to foreign media including CNN on the 21st (local time), a resident of Maryland matched all five numbers 40, 53, 60, 68, 69 and the Powerball number 22 in the previous day's drawing, winning first place.

Since September last year, no winner had emerged for four months, causing the accumulated jackpot of the U.S. lottery 'Powerball' to soar to $731.1 million (approximately 805.9 billion won). Finally, a winner has been found.

The prize money is $731.1 million (about 806.1 billion won) if received as an annuity over 29 years, and $546.8 million (about 602.8 billion won) if taken as a lump sum. This is the sixth largest amount in U.S. lottery history and the fourth largest in Powerball history.

US Lottery Powerball / Internet Capture. [Photo by Yonhap News]

This Powerball ticket was sold at Connie Market, a convenience store in Lonaconing, a small mining town in Maryland. The market owner, Richard Ravenscroft (77), said, "I don't know who the winner is, but I hope it is someone who deserves it," adding, "My phone has been ringing nonstop. This is the most hectic moment in my life." The retailer will also receive a $100,000 prize (about 110.18 million won).

The identity of the winner has not yet been disclosed, and it has been revealed that the prize money has not been claimed. Lonaconing Mayor Jack Corbin said, "I have seen who the winner is, but for privacy reasons, I cannot reveal the name." Maryland is one of the states, along with Delaware, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wyoming, where lottery winners can claim their prizes anonymously.

Meanwhile, this news has brought tremendous attention from the media to Lonaconing, a small mining town with a population of 1,200. Most of the residents here make a living through difficult open-pit mining. One citizen who responded to an interview said, "Most of the town's residents are blue-collar workers who buy bread or milk," and added, "Everyone is curious about who the winner is."