As people search for last-minute holiday gifts, the jackpots for Powerball and Mega Millions are going up.
The Kansas Lottery website reports that Powerball is up to $341 million, and Mega Millions is up to $352 million. The Mega Millions drawing is Dec. 25, while the Powerball drawing is Dec. 26. Each ticket costs $2.
Thursday is also the drawing day for Lucky for Life, a $2 ticket with a top prize of $1,000 a day for life.
The Kansas Lottery has reminded everyone that while lottery tickets make great gifts, they are only for friends and family who are 18 years old or older. Residents are asked to gift responsibly this holiday season.
The Kansas Lottery today launched a new $2 instant scratch game called Sporting Kansas City.
“We’re excited to partner with the Sporting Kansas City organization on this new game,” said Kansas Lottery Executive Director Terry Presta. “We think our players will really enjoy a chance to win a VIP Soccer experience, as well as numerous cash prizes.”
Players can win up to $10,000 instantly playing Sporting Kansas City scratchers. There are six top prizes of $10,000 in the game, along with 30 $500 prizes, 60 $200 prizes and thousands of other smaller cash prizes.
Those who don’t win instantly may enter a second-chance drawing for a chance to win a VIP Soccer Experience Prize Package for the 2015 season. The grand prize package, valued at approximately $22,000, includes:
• Four 2015 season tickets with two VIP parking passes, including hospitality
• “VIP Dinner with Sporting Kansas City,” including a photo and autograph session, plus photo with the 2013 MLS Cup
• Sporting Kansas City memorabilia (autographed jersey and soccer ball)
• Honorary coin toss and game ball presentation at a predetermined game
• Behind-the-scenes tour of Sporting Park at a predetermined game
• Post-game press conference for four people at a predetermined game
• $500 cash
For a chance to win the grand prize, players may enter non-winning $2 Sporting Kansas City tickets online through the Kansas Lottery Players Club. The deadline to enter is noon on Sept. 23. The winner will be announced Sept. 26.
Susan Morgan, 58, of Kansas City, Kan., recently won $25,000 in a Kansas Lottery game. (Lottery photo)
Susan Morgan, 58, of Kansas City, Kan., came to Kansas Lottery headquarters missing something.
Morgan lost her voice last Thursday from laryngitis, but that didn’t keep her from telling about her $25,000 win on a $5 Extreme Cash Blast scratch ticket.
Morgan never thought she would win a top prize, even though she plays a $5 scratch ticket every time she gets a cup of coffee from QuikTrip.
“I’ve won $100 about ten times, and smaller prizes here and there, enough to keep me playing,” Morgan said. “But now I really believe, real people really do win.”
Morgan’s son was the one who picked up her coffee and the winning ticket for her when he came over to shovel her driveway. He went outside to get started and Morgan immediately called him back inside when she saw she had won $25,000.
“All he said was, ‘Mom, I think you finally won,’” Morgan remembered.
Morgan held on to the ticket for a few weeks before coming into the Topeka office to claim it. She is a full-time waitress and knows exactly what she’s going to do with the money.
“I’ve needed foot surgery for a long time, but I can’t afford to be off my feet that long since I’m a waitress. Now I have enough to get my foot fixed. It’s like my prayers have been answered.”
Morgan has two sons, both of whom will be sharing some of the prize money. Morgan said everyone around her has been so happy for her.
“They are just thrilled for me, that someone who works hard all the time won. They are believers now, too, that real people really do win.”
The ticket was purchased at QuikTrip 199, at 389 N. 130th St. in Bonner Springs. There are two $25,000 top prizes remaining in the game.
