Eastern Idaho’s Holiday Luck Streak Lights Up December
Eastern Idaho wrapped up December with more than just festive lights and family dinners — the Idaho Lottery delivered some eye-catching wins that turned Christmas week into a true celebration. From a million-dollar surprise in Rigby to a life-changing ticket still waiting to be claimed, luck was clearly making the rounds.
A $1 Million Shocker in Rigby
Sean Klingler, a sixth-generation Idahoan and longtime lottery player from Rigby, had no idea a casual coffee stop would change his life. While checking his Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle tickets at a local store, the clerk first told him he’d won $100,000.
That didn’t sound right — and it wasn’t.
Moments later, the clerk corrected herself: the ticket was worth $1,000,000. The store quickly turned into a mini celebration with smiles, disbelief, and plenty of high-fives.
Klingler immediately signed the ticket, called his wife and daughter, and the family headed straight to Boise that Tuesday afternoon to make it official.
“Nobody believes you at first,” Klingler said. “They think you’re joking. That’s why the pictures and the big check help.”
As for the money, he plans to keep things practical:
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Pay off high-interest debt
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Buy his wife a new car
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Put most of it toward retirement
After years of playing, the dream finally came true — and it still feels surreal.
Quick reminder:
Two Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle prizes are still unclaimed:
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$1 million ticket sold in Kootenai County (Ticket No. 326200)
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$100,000 ticket sold in Payette County (Ticket No. 271072)
Checking those tickets could be worth it.
Pocatello Player Scores $50,000 — and a Big Question Is Coming
Pocatello resident Kurt Blaisdell also had a reason to celebrate after landing a $50,000 Raffle win. He even got to enjoy the classic lottery moment — calling into work to say he wouldn’t be in that day.
While he returned to work shortly after, Blaisdell already knows where the money is going: an engagement ring for his fiancée. She was right there when he shared the news, though he’s keeping the surprise details quiet for now.
The $500,000 Christmas Gift Still Out There
The Idaho Lottery is still searching for one very lucky player in Bannock County. A Lucky for Life ticket from the December twenty-fifth draw matched all five main numbers — 23, 29, 31, 37, and 45 — just missing the Lucky Ball.
That ticket is worth:
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$25,000 a year for life, or
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A $500,000 cash option
“That’s quite a Christmas present waiting for someone,” said Lottery Public Information Specialist David Workman.
Players have one hundred eighty days to claim prizes. If the ticket goes unclaimed, the money doesn’t vanish — it goes back into Idaho’s Lottery dividend, helping fund public schools and state building projects across the state.
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