Pick 4 Pays $1.6 Million on 5-5-5-5

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For the first time since the Louisiana Lottery launched Pick 4 in March 1999, the numbers 5-5-5-5 were randomly selected with more than $1.6 million won for the Jan. 27 drawing.   

"This is the largest amount won on a Pick 4 drawing in which straight identical digits were selected," said Lottery President Rose Hudson.  "In the lobby at headquarters, there was standing room only for players waiting to claim prizes on Jan. 28.  It was exciting to see that many winners all at once."
 
Winners claimed Pick 4 prizes ranging from $2,500 to $115,000 at the Lottery's headquarters in Baton Rouge, as well as its regional offices in Lafayette, New Orleans, Alexandria, Monroe, and Shreveport.

"I always play this game and it feels good to win!" said Randle Cofield Bey of Lake Charles who claimed $2,500 at the Lafayette regional office.  Cofield Bey, age 42, purchased her winning ticket at Calcasieu Exxon on Broad Street in Lake Charles and plans to go "shopping" with her winnings.

Hillary James Dehart of Houma claimed a total of $25,000 from five winning tickets at the New Orleans regional office.  "I don't know what I'm going to do with the money yet, but it feels good to win!" said Dehart, age 52.  He purchased his winning tickets at BJ's Country Corner #2 on W. Main Street in Houma.

"This was my first time playing the game, but my husband plays these numbers all the time," said Melinda W. Fair of Vidalia who claimed $5,000 at the Alexandria regional office.  Fair, age 46, purchased her winning ticket at Rainbow Mini Mart on Carter Street in Vidalia and said she plans to use her winnings to fix her car.

"I was just feeling lucky," said Torrance Williams of Shreveport who claimed $5,000 at the Shreveport regional office. "I will definitely play again!" Williams, age 42, purchased his winning ticket at B & B Mart on Blanchard Road in Shreveport.

Hudson also noted that straight identical digits have been selected four times since the game's inception, the most recent being the April 12, 2007 drawing.  The winning numbers were 9-9-9-9.
 
For a $1 wager, Pick 4 pays a top prize of $5,000 for matching all four digits in order, whereas a 50-cent wager pays $2,500.  The odds of a straight match are 1 in 10,000.

Players must be at least 21 years of age to purchase a Lottery ticket.  The Lottery encourages anyone who has a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem to call toll-free 1-877-770-7867 for help.