2009 Press Releases

January 08, 2009

DELAWARE RAFFLE WINNERS COME FORWARD
Top-prize winner claims $250,000 in New Year’s Eve Drawing

Dover, DE -- The Delaware Lottery announced it has awarded the grand prize for its DELAWARE RAFFLE game, which concluded with a drawing shortly after ticket sales ended on New Year’s Eve. A player from Dover, who wished to remain anonymous, happily claimed the $250,000 check (minus Federal withholding taxes).

This year’s quarter-million-dollar prize went to a grandfather of three who plans to use some of the winnings towards his upcoming retirement. “I couldn’t believe it was true – that I’d really won – until I actually got down to the Lottery office and confirmed it,” the man said. As a scratch-off and POWERBALL® player, the biggest previous prize he’d won was $1,500. “This is quite a different experience than winning on other games,” he added.

For the first time in its three-year life, Delaware Lottery licensed retailers were unable to sell all 100,000 tickets for the Delaware Raffle, with slightly more than 10% of the tickets remaining unsold at game closing time on December 31, 2008. Sluggish sales, due primarily the downturn in the retail economy, actually improved the average odds of winning for ticket holders when the Lottery drew the same number of prize winners from the reduced number of tickets sold. “We announced our commitment to the planned New Year’s Eve drawing and were excited about our players’ improved opportunity to cash in,” said Delaware Lottery Director, Wayne Lemons.

The top-prize winner was one of the people who heard about the likelihood of improved odds for this year’s RAFFLE. As the day of the drawing grew closer, he wanted to do whatever possible to increase his odds of winning. “I bought 10 raffle tickets at different times and at different stores,” said the lucky winner. The top prize ticket was sold at Geo's Liquor Mart at 9989-5 S. Dupont Hwy. in Felton, DE.

The Lottery has also handed out four of the five guaranteed $25,000 first prizes. Winners who have already stepped forward to claim their prize include; a Dover woman who plans to pay off her mortgage, a Delaware native who lives in Wilmington, a regular Lottery player who will put the winnings towards bills, and a 40-year-old teacher who hopes the money will make her next summer vacation a little nicer. One $25,000 first prize remained unclaimed as of today.

The Lottery will also award 250 prizes of $500. Winning numbers for the RAFFLE game can be found on the Delaware Lottery web site: http://www.delottery.com/raffle2008/index.asp

The Delaware Lottery reminds players that all prizes must be claimed within one year from the drawing date.

Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $2.8 billion to the state’s General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL®, HOT LOTTO®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, and assorted Instant Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional details are available at delottery.com, at licensed retailers, and from the Lottery's office in Dover.

Winner Privacy is our Policy.

The Delaware Lottery only publishes winner names with their consent.