HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Sometimes millionaires are made overnight.

The only winning ticket sold for Saturday night’s $59.5 million multistate Powerball drawing was sold in Connecticut and the lucky ticket-holder remained a mystery on Sunday.

The jackpot is the largest in the 33-year history of the Connecticut State Lottery, spokeswoman Diane Patterson said.

“We’re very excited here at the lottery,” Patterson said. “Someone is really going to have some major changes in their life.”

Patterson said the winner had not yet come forward.

“Hopefully that person will give us a call on Monday and let us know,” she said.

The winner can take the winnings over 30 years or in a lump sum payment of $34.6 million, Patterson said.

For security reason, the lottery would not identify the retailer until the winning ticket is claimed. Patterson explained that Connecticut is one of the few states that does not immediately release the vendor information.

For the first time, the vendor that sold the winning ticket will receive $100,000. Patterson said the promotion has been in place for two years but there’s been no Powerball winners.

“We’ve been waiting to hand over a big check to the retailer,” Patterson said.

The drawing comes eight years to the day since the last time a Connecticut resident won the Powerball jackpot. A New Britain resident shared an $8 million jackpot on June 25, 1997, Patterson said.

The winning numbers drawn were: 7-28-31-32-40, Powerball 14, Power Play: 2. There were nearly 17,000 winning Powerball tickets sold in Connecticut for Saturday’s drawing and the winnings ranged from $3 to the $59.5 million jackpot.

Lottery officials suggest the winner put the ticket in a secure place, such as a bank safety deposit box and contact a legal adviser and financial planner before contacting the lottery.

“We would be willing to work with whomever they hire to help them through this process,” Patterson said. “This is a tremendous change in life.”



On the Net:

Multi-State Lottery Association: http://www.powerball.com

Connecticut Lottery: www.ctlottery.org