AN Idaho woman’s streak of playing the same lottery numbers since 1989 finally paid off when the numbers earned her a US$390,000 jackpot Sept. 15.

    Rosemary Loveland said she has been entering the same numbers in the weekly drawings since the Idaho Lottery began in 1989, and Friday morning she discovered her numbers for the previous night’s drawing qualified her for the second-tier prize on the Idaho Lottery Draw Game Lucky for Life — US$25,000 a year for life, or a US$390,000 lump sum.

    “I looked at the numbers and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I recognized them right away!” she told Lottery officials. “I called my daughter and told her ‘I did it! I did it! I did it!’”

    New to playing the game, Loveland knew she’d won a big prize — but was uncertain exactly how much she’d won until she called the Lottery offices.

    For matching the first five numbers, but not the Lucky Ball, players have a choice of collecting US$25,000 a year for life with a minimum 20-year payout — half-a-million dollars — or, they may select a one-time, lump sum cash payout of US$390,000.

    “I always thought I’d be lucky to win US$25, but to win a half-a-million, wow!” Loveland exclaimed.

    A retiree since 1984, Loveland decided to take the one-time lump sum cash option of US$390,000. She plans to invest her winnings for her children and grandchildren.

    (SD-Agencies)