Beebe Powerball player claims $2 million winning ticket

BEEBE, Ark. (KATV) — A Beebe resident won $2 million in the April 29 Powerball drawing!

The winning numbers were 3, 19, 35, 51 and 67, and the Powerball number was 15.

The Power Play multiplier was 2. The winner claimed their prize at the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Claim Center on May 20 and chose to remain anonymous.

“I play once in a blue moon, but I thought, ‘Let me go ahead and try,’” they told lottery officials. “It was just one of those days.”

The lucky winner bought their ticket on the night of the drawing at BB One Stop, located at 20 Highway 64 W. in Beebe.

Although players typically use birthdays and other important dates for winning numbers, in this game, the player created a pattern to choose their numbers.

“I would pick a number on the playslip, skip a row, then pick another number, and so on,” they said.

To select the Powerball number, they played a round of rock-paper-scissors with their partner.

“My favorite number is 16, and my partner’s favorite number is 15,” the player said. “Since I won, I went with 16.”

Finally, the player also opted for the Power Play multiplier, at their partner’s suggestion.

The Beebe resident went home and fell asleep without checking their ticket. At work the following day, the player saw a news story announcing that a winning Powerball ticket had been sold in Arkansas. Curious, they looked up the numbers online.

“No, that can’t be it,” they thought. “This can’t be real.”

The player had matched all but the Powerball number, winning a $1 million prize. Because they bought the ticket with Power Play for an additional $1, their prize doubled to $2 million.