DES MOINES, Iowa - After using a combination of his own numbers and an easy pick on his Mega Millions® ticket, a Davenport man won $10,000 in the July 17 drawing.
Brian Dahl, 52, said he always chooses the Mega Ball number when he plays and lets the machine choose the rest of the numbers.
"I play all of our birthdays on the Mega Ball," Dahl said. "I couldn't believe I got the first three, then skipped one and got the last one."
Dahl, who is a dealer representative for the Greater Quad Cities Auto Auction, called his wife to tell her the good news.
"She was excited," he said. "I've been telling her I'm going to win for a long time."
Dahl purchased his winning ticket at Kwik Shop, 3129 Rockingham in Davenport. He said he plans to share the big news with the store he's been visiting for years.
Dahl used his son's birthday for this particular Mega Millions play.
"He couldn't believe it," Dahl said.
Dahl checked his ticket July 18 while at home and claimed his prize shortly after at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids.
"My youngest son is getting married in a month, so this is going to come in really handy," he said.
The winning numbers in the $28 million Mega Millions drawing on July 17 were 1-13-21-49-55 and Mega Ball 17. The Megaplier® number that night was 4. Dahl's ticket matched four of the five white balls and the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. If he had added the multiplier to his ticket, he would have multiplied his $10,000 win by four to claim a $40,000 prize.
Players can multiply their prizes (except the jackpot) with the Megaplier up to four times. The cost is $1 per play.
Winning numbers may be checked at the lottery website at www.ialottery.com or through the winning numbers' hot line at (515) 323-4633. Winning numbers may also be checked with lottery retail outlets or by calling the lottery at (515) 725-7900 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Since the lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.9 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.
Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.
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