A spokesperson for the group,
Jackie Burdick of McKean County, said five of them started playing together as a group 20 years ago and it just grew from there.
“This is the first time we won!”
said Burdick. “I’m usually the one who collects the money from my co-workers to play the Lottery. We made a last-minute decision to play that day.”
“I was at a doctor’s appointment in Pittsburgh, when I saw on the news that someone won $1 million. Then a family member called me and said, ‘Someone in Smethport won! You better check your ticket.’ I was like, ‘I better check.’”
Jackie went on to say that when she did scan the ticket with the PA Lottery Official App, it instructed her to ‘see a retailer.’
“When I scanned it at a retailer it showed, ‘Congratulations you won $1 million!’ I thought, ‘Oh my gosh this can’t be real. I have to call these girls!’” she said.
“I was in disbelief!” said Jackie. “I was jumping up and down, screaming, yelling and crying! I thought, ‘I can’t wait to tell everyone.’”
Each member of the group has already received a check for an estimated $48,600, after taxes.
“I think I’ll spend my portion of the prize on my kids, grandkids and a nice vacation,” Burdick added.
“We always say, it only takes one ticket to win, and their last-minute decision certainly paid off,”
said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “We appreciate all medical workers and congratulate this group for winning this prize.
Pool play is a terrific way to play responsibly and within your means.”
This group’s winning ticket was part of a historic Mega Millions® jackpot run, which began on April 21, 2023, and lasted until August 8, 2023. It was also a big win for Pennsylvania’s older residents, because that jackpot run generated more than $108.7 million in sales in Pennsylvania, and an estimated profit of $43.5 million for programs that Pennsylvania seniors rely on every day.
The record Mega Millions® jackpot from that run was worth an estimated annuity of $1.602 billion, or $794.2 million cash, and was won by a single ticket sold in Florida for the August 8, 2023, drawing.
Pennsylvania Lottery players have options to purchase their Mega Millions® tickets
online or by visiting a
retailer. Players can find lottery-selling locations closest to them by visiting the
Find a Retailer section of the Lottery’s website.
Visit the
Winners and
Benefits pages at palottery.com to review how much money each county received in Lottery prizes and funding to benefit older Pennsylvanians last fiscal year.
See 7/28/23 Mega Millions Payouts >
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About Us: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to
programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed more than $35.1 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals. The Pennsylvania Lottery operates as a bureau within the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
Visit the
Winners and
Benefits pages at palottery.com to review how much money each county receives in Lottery prizes and funding to benefit older Pennsylvanians.
Players must be 18 or older.
Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.
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