New Orleans Man Claims $1 Million Powerball Prize

Retirement could come a little sooner for Glenn Cedotal of New Orleans after he won a $1 million Powerball prize in the July 25 drawing.

The 58-year-old father of three could not believe his eyes when he checked his numbers the next day. "I called my daughter and told her to go on the Lottery's website and read me the winning numbers to make sure," Cedotal recalled Tuesday as he claimed his prize at Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge.

A regular Powerball player, Cedotal likes to purchase tickets when the jackpot gets high. "Somebody's got to win it!" he said. The jackpot for the drawing to be held Saturday, Aug. 11, is $253 million.

Cedotal's winning ticket matched all five white ball numbers, but missed the red Powerball number, to win $1 million. The winning numbers were 03-14-35-38-46 and the Powerball number was 16. Cedotal received $700,000 after state and federal taxes were withheld. He plans to save the money for retirement.

Cedotal purchased his winning ticket at RaceTrac Petroleum #488 in Boutte. The store will receive a bonus of $10,000, which is 1 percent of the prize, for selling the winning ticket.

The Powerball game underwent several enhancements in January to create bigger jackpots, more millionaires and better odds of winning. In addition to a price increase to $2 per play, the game's "match-5" prize, which Cedotal won, quadrupled from $200,000 to $1 million.

Ticket purchasers must be at least 21 years of age.  Draw-style game tickets must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing.  Anyone who may have a gambling problem, or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem should call toll free 1-877-770-7867 for help. 

For security purposes, the Lottery strongly encourages players to sign the back of their tickets immediately after purchasing.