Sean Klingler of Rigby, Idaho, has claimed a $1,000,000 prize from the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle. Klingler discovered his win while checking tickets at a local store.
“I was at the local store having coffee and started checking some of my lottery tickets. I had eight Raffle tickets and when the clerk checked them, she told me I had won $100,000,” Klingler said. “I didn’t believe her. I thought maybe it was $100. Then she said to me, ‘no I got it wrong, you won $1,000,000!’ There was a lot of high fiving in the store after that!”
After confirming his win and signing his ticket, Klingler called his wife and daughter before traveling to Boise to claim the prize.
“Nobody believes you at first, that you won. They think you’re messing with them,” he told Lottery officials once he arrived in Boise. “That’s why we’re taking a lot of pictures here. The big check will help, too.”
Klingler plans to use his winnings to pay off debts, buy a new car for his wife, and save for retirement.
“I’ve been playing the Lottery for a long time,” Klingler said upon receiving his winnings. “You dream about winning and when it finally comes true, it’s weird.”
The Idaho Lottery noted that another $1 million prize from this year’s raffle remains unclaimed in Kootenai County (ticket number 326200), as well as a $100,000 prize sold in Payette County (ticket number 271072). Players are encouraged to check their tickets.
In addition to Klingler’s win, Kurt Blaisdell of Pocatello claimed a $50,000 prize from the same raffle game. After discovering he was the winner, Blaisdell said he planned to buy an engagement ring for his fiancé.
The Idaho Lottery is also seeking the holder of a Lucky for Life ticket sold in Bannock County for the Christmas Day draw. The ticket matched all five main numbers but not the Lucky Ball and is worth $25,000 per year for life. The winning numbers were 23, 29, 31, 37 ,45 with Lucky Ball 16.
The Idaho Lottery offers various games including Powerball and Mega Millions with proceeds supporting public schools and building projects throughout Idaho. Since its inception in 1989,the organization has generated over $6.2 billion in sales, awarded nearly $4 billion in prizes to players and contributed more than $1.3 billion toward state education and infrastructure funds.
