NEW BERLIN — The winning $768 million Powerball ticket was sold at the Speedway at the corner of Beloit Rd. and Moorland Rd. in New Berlin.
A single ticket that matched all six Powerball numbers to win an estimated $768.4 million — the third-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history — was sold in the Milwaukee suburb, Wisconsin Lottery officials said early Thursday.
“I stop at this gas station regularly, and even bought my lottery tickets here, so it hurts a little bit,” said John Wollenziehn. “We woke up this morning and everybody was calling and texting us, knowing we live in New Berlin, and we had to tell everyone nope, not us.
Wollenziehn, like so many others, is wondering who won.
“I can’t stop thinking who it might be,” he said. “New Berlin is a small city. Maybe I know them. I can definitely tell you that person is my new best friend. I’m kidding...Seriously though, I think it’s just awesome. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.”
The winner has not yet come forward to claim the $768 million - the third largest jackpot in U.S. Lottery History. By law in Wisconsin, lottery winners cannot remain anonymous.
“It’s an exciting day for the state of Wisconsin,” said Cindy Polzin, Wisconsin Lottery director. “We don’t know who the winner is yet. If they’re listening, we ask them to please sign the ticket. That is the most important thing they can do right now. Get your affairs in order. You have 180 days to claim your ticket here in Madison, and we certainly look forward to meeting you. “
While the winner is till a mystery, it’s no mystery that the Speedway where the ticket was sold is already seeing more business.
“I heard the winning ticket was sold here, so I got in my car and decided to drive out here,” said Willie Robinson, who lives in Milwaukee. “I bought my Daily Pick 3, Megabucks and SuperCash! Lotto tickets because maybe this is a lucky place! I really wish I would have won that $768 million Powerball though.”
If the winner chooses the lump sum option, they’ll get a cash payment of $477 million.
The Speedway where the ticket was sold will get $100,000. This big jackpot also indirectly helps all Wisconsin homeowners by providing a little extra property tax relief.
According to The Wisconsin Lottery, the odds of winning the big prize are about one in 292 million. But a glimmer of hope — Wisconsin ranks sixth out of all the states in the U.S. for most wins in Powerball history.
The win comes almost two years after Wisconsin hit its last Powerball jackpot, when a Milwaukee resident won $156.2 million on March 22, 2017.
The winning numbers were 16, 20, 37, 44 and 62. The Powerball number was 12.
