Bucks County Man Claims $33.1 Million Powerball® Jackpot

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Dec. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Roger Custer, of Levittown, Bucks County today claimed a $33.1 million Powerball™ jackpot from the Dec. 5, 2012 drawing.

Lottery Deputy Executive Director for Marketing and Product Development Drew Svitko today presented a ceremonial check for $33,134,526.18 to Custer, holder of the single jackpot-winning ticket from that drawing. Custer was accompanied by his wife, Linda, and several family members.

The ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 13-17-19-27-38, and the red Powerball, 12, to win a $50 million annuity, or $33.1 million cash prize, less 25 percent federal withholding. Custer elected to take the cash prize.

"The best part about winning the Powerball jackpot is being able to take care of my family," said Custer, who is retired. "It's a good feeling to know that my family will never have to worry."

Custer purchased the ticket at Levittown News & Tobacco, 411 S. Oxford Valley Road, Fairless Hills, Bucks County. The retailer earns a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Custer presented the ticket for validation today at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County. Lottery officials confirmed it was the jackpot-winning ticket after examining the ticket and executing proprietary security measures.

"I'm delighted to introduce Roger Custer as the Pennsylvania Lottery's 16^th Powerball jackpot winner, but older Pennsylvanians are also big winners," said Svitko. "Powerball and Power Play sales in 2012 have generated more than $105 million for important programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians."

Lottery-funded services for older adults include property tax and rent rebates, low-cost prescriptions, free and reduced-fare rides, long-term living services and in-home health and wellness services as well as a myriad of social, educational and recreational programs offered through the 52 Area Agencies on Aging and hundreds of senior centers across the state.

"After stopping for supplies for a hunting trip, I purchased two Powerball tickets, a Treasure Hunt ticket and some instant tickets," Custer said. "I won $5 on the instant ticket and gave it to my wife. I kept the Powerball tickets in my wallet during the 5 days I was hunting.

"After I got back, a friend mentioned that the jackpot-winning ticket was sold nearby and I jokingly said, 'I'm the winner.' I went home, handed the ticket to my wife and said, 'Check this and tell me how many millions we've won.'"

Custer said his wife checked the ticket, began to cry with joy and said, "You'd better not be kidding me, Roger."

Custer said he told only immediate family at first and only began sharing the good news with others today.

"I'll be doing a lot more hunting and fishing, for sure," Custer added.

Custer is the 16^th Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball jackpot winner since the state joined the multi-jurisdictional game in June 2002.  This was the second Powerball jackpot-winning ticket sold in Pennsylvania this year. Last spring, a group of SEPTA employees from the Philadelphia area claimed a $107.5 million cash jackpot from the April 25 drawing.

The Powerball prize awarded today ranks as the 15th largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. The largest prize ever awarded to a single winner in Pennsylvania was a $110.2 million Powerball jackpot cash prize from the May 8, 2004, drawing, which was claimed by a couple from Skillman, N.J.

How to play Powerball: Players pay $2 and select five white balls from the first set of 59 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 35 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball playslip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize.

Powerball tickets are sold in 44 participating jurisdictions.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $22.6 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state.

The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For drawings results, winning numbers, winners' stories and to subscribe to the Lottery's RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Also log in to Facebook and like us at www.facebook.com/palottery or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

Media contacts: Gary Miller or Lauren Piccolo, 717-702-8008

Editor's Note:  The Custer family was generous enough to participate in a media event recognizing this win, but they asked the media to respect their privacy following the event and requested the Lottery decline additional media interviews on their behalf. 

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery