Who won $3.7 million Lotto?

Someone who purchased a Missouri Lotto ticket at a Jackson convenience store won Saturday night's $3.7 million prize, the Missouri Lottery announced Tuesday.

The holder of the winning ticket hasn't come forward, said Susan Goedde, spokeswoman for the lottery. The ticket was sold at the Jackson BP, 1831 E. Jackson Blvd.

"We are just now alerting the public that the ticket was sold at the Jackson BP, and if you buy your tickets there, please check them," Goedde said.

The store received word about the winning ticket Tuesday morning, employee Becky Archer said. Many of the store's lottery customers are repeat customers, she said. "We are kind of curious to see ourselves who has won."

The numbers on the winning ticket are 7, 12, 13, 25, 34 and 37. Lotto winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize.

If the winner opts to take the prize as a cash payout, he or she would receive a check for $2.3 million minus 29 percent state and federal tax withholdings, for a net of $1.6 million, Goedde said.

If the winner decides to take the money in annual installments for 25 years, the yearly check would come to $105,800 after tax withholding, she said.

For the lucky ticket holder, Goedde has some advice: Sign the back of the ticket and put it in a safe place. Then contact an accountant or lawyer who can explain the tax liabilities and opportunities for the two payment options.

The ticketholder must bring the ticket to a Missouri Lottery office in St. Louis, Springfield, Jefferson City or Kansas City so the ticket can be verified, she said.

The winning ticket is the third-largest jackpot ticket sold in Cape Girardeau County, Goedde said. In 1990, a Scott City resident won $6.8 million on a ticket purchased in Cape Girardeau, and in August 2003 a Jackson couple, John and Bev Gibson, won $4.3 million on a Missouri Lotto ticket purchased at the Country Mart in Jackson.

The Lotto game is the smaller of the two large-jackpot games offered by the Missouri Lottery. The other is the multistate Powerball game. The Lotto prize begins at $1 million and grows until a winning ticket is sold.

The winner of the Saturday night drawing has until June 21 to come forward, Goedde said.

Lottery retailers receive a 1 percent bonus when they sell winning tickets. The bonus for the Jackson BP will be $37,000.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126