Montana residents who didnt wake up early to purchase a ticket for the states annual lottery are out of luck.
Officials confirmed that all 500,000 Montana Millionaire tickets were sold by 8:24am Friday, after going on sale only hours earlier at 5:30am, according to KRTV News.
The demand for Montana Millionaire this year has been absolutely incredible, Montana Lottery Director Bob Brown told KRTV News.
We knew tickets would sell fast, but under a 3-hour sellout for 500,000 tickets is truly unprecedented.
The Montana Millionaire tickets sold out just less than three hours
About 100,000 of the $20 tickets were sold by 6:00am, and by 7:30am, 392,000 had been purchased.
Prior to the tickets going on sale, lottery officials added a fourth $1 million grand prize.
Players looking to win the $1 million jackpots will have to wait for the drawing on December 26.
Officials added a Quarter Million Monday drawing on December 2, with the winner taking home $250,000.
They also increased the number of instant prize wins.
According to the Montana Lottery website, 2,300 Montana Millionaire winners will receive $500, and 4,500 winners will walk away with $100.
About 100,000 of the $20 tickets were sold by 6:00am, and by 7:30am, 392,000 had been purchased
Prior to the sellout, Montana retailers braced themselves for the onslaught.
The Heidelberg Bar Casino & Liquor Store in Great Falls sold one of the states three winning $1 million dollar tickets last year.
I feel like somebody winning locally, and especially here, makes it just a little bit more exciting and makes it feel like its within reach for people, Heidelberg employee Blair Michel told KRTV News.
Everyone who is at least 18 or older in Montana can participate, even if they dont reside in that state.
The Heidelberg Bar Casino & Liquor Store in Great Falls, Montana, sold one of the three winning $1 million tickets in 2023
Winners of the $250,000 and $1 million cash prizes must claim the money at lottery headquarters in Helena, Montana, or by mailing in the signed tickets with a claim form.
Those winners must also submit a copy of their drivers license or any other form of identification.
All winners of amounts under $600, including the instant prize winners, can collect their earnings at any Montana retailer.
Winners have six months from the time of the drawing to claim their prize.