New Mexico Lottery History
February 4
Eduardo Vasquez of Albuquerque claims a $1 million Powerball
prize. The lucky Powerball ticket matched the five white balls
drawn on the January 30 drawing. Ordinarily, this grouping pays
$200,000, but Mr. Vasquez purchased Power Play®
for an extra $1 and the prize was increased fivefold.
January 31
Mega Millions launches.
January 25
Ruidoso residents Bill and Janet Swann and daughters Lisa and Stacey
Swann win New Mexico's fourth Hot Lotto jackpot, claiming $3.54 million. The
winning numbers were drawn on January 16.
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November 24
Elida resident Aurbra King wins New Mexico's third Hot Lotto
jackpot, claiming $1.1 million. The winning numbers were drawn
on November 18.
October 4
Roadrunner Cash changes. Starting jackpot increases from $20,000 to
$25,000. Overall odds are reduced from 1 in 66 to 1 in 8.
October
Higher Education Department announces that a total of 61,000 students
have received Legislative Lottery Scholarships since 1996.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2009 with $142.6 million in gross sales and
$40.8 million in profit.
January 4
Powerball changes to create bigger jackpots, a $1 million prize and more winners. Among the changes, players pick five numbers from 1 to 59, up from 1 to 55, and one Powerball number from 1 to 39, down from 1 to 42. The game's starting jackpot increases from $15 million to $20 million. The Florida Lottery joins Powerball. The live drawing show moves to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
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November 16
The New Mexico Lottery turns on a new gaming system designed to provide better service and more information to players while reducing
Lottery operating expenses.
October 3
Nine Roswell residents claim a $206.9 million prize, New Mexico's largest Powerball jackpot ever. The winning ticket was drawn on September 27.
October
Higher Education Department announces that more than 54,000 students have received Legislative Lottery Scholarships since 1996.
August 15
Joseph Baca of Las Vegas claims a $1 million Powerball prize multiplied from $200,000 by Power Play.
The winning numbers were drawn on August 9.
June 30
New Mexico Lottery prizes won by players surpass $1 billion.
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2008 with gross sales of $147.8 million and record profit of $40.8 million.
February 11
Albuquerque resident David Fort wins New Mexico's second Hot Lotto jackpot, claiming $5.6 million.
The winning numbers were drawn on February 9.
January 3
Lottery introduces "Sizzler" multiplier feature to Hot Lotto.
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December 31
Lottery draws winning raffle tickets for $625,000 in prizes.
October 28
Lottery launches New Year's Eve Raffle game.
October
Higher Education Department announces that more than 48,000 students have received Legislative Lottery Scholarships since 1996.
August 7
Farmington resident Edward Boyd claims New Mexico's first Hot Lotto jackpot. He splits
a $2 million prize equally with a Minnesota player. The winning numbers were
drawn on August 4.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2007 with gross sales of $148.8 million and profit of $34.8 million.
May 30
New Mexico's fourth Powerball jackpot winner, Felipe Piña of Los Ojos, claims his
prize of $62.8 million. The winning numbers were drawn on May 23.
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November 21
Roadrunner Cash reaches record prize of $687,000; the prize was claimed Dec. 1 by three players from Albuquerque & Edgewood.
November 12
Lottery launches Hot Lotto, a multi-state drawing game.
November
Lottery profits raised for education break mark of $300 million.
October
Higher Education Department announces that more than 43,000 students have received Legislative Lottery Scholarships since 1996.
August 1
Lottery Board of Directors appoints Tom Romero CEO.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2006 with record gross sales of $150.6 million and record profit of $36.9 million.
April 27
The New Mexico Lottery celebrates 10th anniversary.
February 18
Powerball reaches record jackpot of $365 million.
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December 17
A lifelong Otero County resident claims a $390,000 Roadrunner Cash prize, the
largest won by one player.
November 21
Lottery Board of Directors appoints Tom Romero Interim CEO; Romero previously served as the lottery's Executive Vice President of Security.
October 19
Powerball reaches record jackpot of $340 million.
September 7
Power Play multiples a second-place Powerball prize into $600,000, the fourth-largest New Mexico Lottery prize to date.
August 28
Powerball game revises with new matrix and prize structure.
August 19
New Mexico's third Powerball jackpot winner, John San Cartier of Albuquerque, claims his $93.4 million Powerball prize.
The winning numbers were drawn on August 10.
July 22
Dutch and Janice Ensconatus of Roswell claim the first top prize in the "$500,000 Extravaganza" Scratcher game.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2005 with gross sales of $134.7 million and profit of $32.2 million.
May 9
Lottery launches "$500,000 Extravaganza," offering its largest Scratcher prize ever.
March 30
Following a national trend, two Powerball players from New Mexico use fortune cookie numbers and win $100,000 prizes.
March 18
Two players split a record Roadrunner Cash prize of $400,000.
January
Gross ticket sales surpass $1 billion.
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December
For the first time in New Mexico, Power Play multiplies a second-place Powerball prize to $400,000.
October 28
At $340,000, two Tijeras neighbors win the second-largest Roadrunner Cash prize.
October
Higher Education Department announces that more than 32,000 students have received Legislative Lottery Scholarships since 1996.
September 26
Lottery launches digital draw system for "Roadrunner Cash," "Pick 3" and "4 This Way!"
Lottery launches "4 This Way!", an in-state drawing game.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2004 with record gross sales of $142.6 million and record profit of $35.9 million.
March 12
Rodney Zamora of Carrizozo claims record Roadrunner Cash prize of $362,000.
The winning numbers were drawn on March 11.
February 11
January Lottery profits raised for education break mark of $200 million; milestone celebrated at the State Capitol in Santa Fe.
January 10
Kathy Silvas of Roswell wins $129,000 on "Powerball Instant Millionaire" game
show.
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October 27
Roadrunner Cash starting top prize increases to $20,000; TV drawings feature animated characters.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2003 with record gross sales of $133.6 million and record profit of $33.1 million.
June
Higher Education Department announces that more than 27,000 students have received Legislative Lottery Scholarships since 1996.
February 20
Lottery Board approves Scientific Games for a four-year Scratcher ticket printing contract.
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December 25
Powerball reaches record jackpot of $315 million.
August 30
Lottery profits raised for education break mark of $150 million.
October 9
Powerball game revises with new matrix (5/53 + 1/42) and prize structure.
October 5
"Powerball Instant Millionaire" debuts, replacing "Powerball - The Game Show." The show host is Todd Newton.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2002 with record gross sales of $129.5 million
and record profit of $29.6 million.
May
Higher Education Department announces that more than 22,000 students have received Lottery Scholarships since 1996.
February 22
New Mexico's second Powerball jackpot winner, Isabell Delgado of Las Cruces, claims her $32 million prize.
The winning numbers were drawn on February 20.
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December
Bob Eubanks, host of "Powerball - The Game Show," makes promotional appearances in Albuquerque and Las Cruces.
November
First $10 Scratcher, "Lucky Luminarias," launches with $100,000 top prize.
October 11-15
The Lottery hosts World Meet '01, a joint meeting of North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries and the World Lottery Association.
October 6
"Powerball - The Game Show" debuts featuring New Mexico contestants.
September 28
Lottery transfers August profits of $5.45 million to the Lottery Tuition
Fund; largest monthly profit to date.
July
"Powerball - The Game Show" Scratcher launches as the entry vehicle to a nationally-syndicated TV game show.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2001 with record gross sales of $113.7 million
and record profit of $25.9 million.
June 15
All Lottery profits now directed to Lottery Tuition Fund (Legislative Lottery Scholarships).
April
Six Los Alamos firefighters claim the first Roadrunner Cash top prize over $100,000. The prize totals $152,000.
March 7
Powerball game adds Power Play multiplier.
March 5
Roadrunner Cash top prize begins to roll.
January
Lottery's first compulsive gambling commercial airs.
Roadrunner Cash game adds a rolling top prize.
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November 30
Fourteen players from Albuquerque claim New Mexico's first Powerball jackpot
of $131 million. The winning numbers were drawn on November 29.
November Lottery profits raised for education break $100 million
mark.
September 25
Lottery televises live Pick 3 and Roadrunner Cash drawings, Andrea Bongiorno hosts.
September 24
Pick 3 launches.
July 1
Legislature determines Lottery proceeds shall be split 50% Public School Capital Outlay Fund / 50% Lottery Tuition Fund.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 2000 with record gross sales of $111.2 million
and record profit of $24.5 million.
February 29
Lottery Board of Directors appoints Tom Shaheen CEO.
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November 1
Roadrunner Cash drawings expand to six nights a week.
September 20
Lottery Board of Directors appoints Gary Bratcher Interim CEO.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 1999 with record gross sales of $89.7 million
and profit of $19.6 million.
May 18
First $5 Scratcher launches; the game's name is "$50,000 Jackpot".
May 10
Alfredo Castillo of Deming wins second Mega Match 4 $500,000 top prize.
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November 3
Richard Beasley of Farmington claims the first $500,000 Mega Match 4 top prize
October 19
Mega Match 4 launches
July 29
Powerball sets sales record of $4.1 million for jackpot worth $295.7 million
July 27
Roadrunner Cash drawings expand to four nights a week
July 1
Lottery implements retailer bonus for selling jackpot-winning and $100,000-winning Powerball tickets.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 1998 with record gross sales of $85.4 million
and profit of $20.1 million.
June 15
Lottery puts up first Powerball jackpot billboard; it is located in Albuquerque.
February 10
Lottery televises first Roadrunner Cash drawing; Nadine Guillén hosts.
February 6
Roadrunner Cash launches; State Senator Roman Maes buys first ticket.
January 15
"Trucks & Bucks" Scratcher launches.
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November 2
Powerball game revises with new matrix (5/49 + 1/42) and prize structure.
September 23
Lottery Board of Directors appoints David Miller CEO.
August
New Mexico Commission on Higher Education awards first Legislative Lottery Scholarships.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 1997 with gross sales of $82.4 million
and profit of $21.9 million.
June 17
Lottery Board of Directors appoints Steve Schwartz Interim CEO.
June 2
The Lottery installs first self-service Scratcher vending machines.
February 16
Daily Millions launches.
January 16
Public School Capital Outlay Council awards $7.2 million in Lottery proceeds to 23 schools (listed on page 5 of the 1997 Annual Report)
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October 20
Powerball launches; Governor Johnson buys first ticket.
August 1
In its first distribution of net profits, the Lottery returns $6.2 million to the State.
July 11
Lottery repays in full $2.8 million in Lottery Revenue Bonds.
June 30
Lottery ends Fiscal Year 1996 (partial year) with gross sales of $28.5 million
and profit of $6.3 million.
April 27
Lottery launch day; Scratcher sales begin. Proceeds split 60% Public School Capital Outlay Fund and 40% Lottery Tuition Fund.
April 8
The first Scratcher tickets - all 7.2 million - arrive at Lottery
headquarters.
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November 20
Ralph Decker, the Lottery's first CEO, reports for work.
August 14
Governor Johnson announces appointments to the Lottery Board of Directors.
April 5
Governor Gary Johnson signs Senate Bill 853, creating the New Mexico Lottery Authority.
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