Santa Fe resident Michael Vigil is the New Mexico Lottery’s seventh millionaire of 2012.
ALBUQUERQUE – Santa Fe resident Michael Vigil is the New Mexico Lottery’s seventh millionaire of 2012.
Beating odds of 1 in 5.2 million, Vigil’s quick-pick ticket for Saturday’s Powerball ® drawing matched the white ball numbers of 14, 18, 28, 29 and 57 to win a $1 million prize. The winner was one digit away from taking the night’s $40 million jackpot. The last number on his ticket was 8 and the winning red Powerball number was 9.
Vigil, who discovered his good fortune Sunday morning after checking his ticket with the winning numbers posted at the lottery’s website, said he plays to help support a good cause.
“It doesn’t hurt to play,” he said. “Win or lose, the money supports the lottery scholarship.”
Vigil told lottery officials in Albuquerque Tuesday that he plans to use his prize to pay bills, visit family out of state and travel abroad.
The winner bought his lucky ticket at Airport Shell located at 7510 Airport Road in Santa Fe. Previously, the gas station has sold nine large prize-winning lottery tickets paying between $1,000 and $30,000. For selling the $1 million-winning ticket, Airport Shell is eligible for a $2,500 New Mexico Lottery bonus.
New Mexico Lottery Millionaires of 2012
Larry and Cynthia Martinez of Blanco won a $1 million Powerball prize in January.
Patrick and Sharon Yazzie of Chinle, Ariz. won a $1 million Powerball prize in March.
Robert Platt of Albuquerque won a $1.54 million Hot Lotto ® jackpot while
James Larson, also of Albuquerque, won a $1 million Powerball prize in April.
Danny Garcia of Veguita won a $1 million Mega Millions ® prize in June.
Justin Laugherty of Las Cruces won a $1 million Powerball prize in August.
Legislative Lottery Scholarships
The sale of New Mexico Lottery games funds a college tuition assistance program. Since 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised more than $535.6 million for public education and more than 75,300 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships.