James McGinnis is proof that you don't need to win the Powerball jackpot to still come away with a life-changing prize.
McGinnis, who lives in Bend, won $2 million playing Powerball at Binky's in Bend. He purchased his ticket for the Saturday, Sept. 16 drawing and added the extra $1 Power Play option, which gives players a chance to multiply their non-jackpot wins.
McGinnis had the numbers 17-18-24-25-31 but missed the Powerball of 24. By adding Power Play, the $1 million "second prize" automatically becomes a $2 million prize, regardless of the Power Play multiplier.
Meanwhile, Binky's owner Jack Pedro, said he was very happy for the win, and the 1-percent sales bonus of $20,000 his company will receive.
"My partner and I are excited and we congratulate the winner and hopefully more winners in the future," Pedro said. "Binkies is lucky! Hopefully with winner will come back in and let us congratulate him."
A woman from Colorado won the Sept. 16 jackpot of $133.2 million and she has used the same numbers for 30 years -- the birthdays of her children and loved ones. The top Powerball prize ever won by an Oregonian was $340 million.
Lottery officials recommend that you always sign the back of your tickets with each Oregon Lottery game you play, to ensure you can claim any prize you may win. The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 should contact the Lottery office to schedule an appointment to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $11 billion for economic development, public education, state parks and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org