HELENA – Two Montana Lottery players each have claimed a top prize for a Scratch game.

Julia Wall of Hamilton claimed a $50,000 top prize for “Super Monopoly” with a ticket purchased from People’s Market; 801 N. Main, Darby.

Julia said she was so surprised by her big win, she thought her ticket was misprinted. But now with the cash to prove it really happened, she plans to buy a new SUV.

“Super Monopoly” debuted May 7, 2012, with prizes up to $50,000.

Donald Duncan of Red Lodge claimed a $10,000 top prize for “Betty Boop” with a ticket from Rockin’ J North; 902 N. Broadway, Red Lodge.

Donald is a new Scratch player who was motivated to start playing after he saw another player win $1,000. He has won several smaller prizes since then, and now he is a top prize winner too.

“Betty Boop” debuted Nov. 13, 2012, with prizes up to $10,000.

The Montana Lottery was created by referendum in 1986. Since then, it has paid more than $459 million in prizes and returned more than $204 million to the State of Montana.

HELENA – Michaela Orton of Bigfork has claimed a $10,000 top prize for the “$10,000 Taxes Paid” Scratch game with a ticket from Ferndale Market, 1845 Hwy. 209; Bigfork.

Michaela is not a regular Scratch game player, however one night she and her significant other were feeling lucky. They bought one of each Scratch game in the dispenser and split up the tickets to scratch them. When Michaela realized she had won the $10,000, she was in shock. She even had her two children check it just to be sure she wasn’t dreaming.

With this exciting win in her pocket, Michaela is planning a much-needed family vacation down the coast with a special stop at Legoland for the three youngest boys on the trip.

“$10,000 Taxes Paid” is a unique Scratch game because the top-prize tax withholdings are paid by the Lottery so the total value of the prize is $14,684 and Michaela received a check for exactly $10,000. Another taxes-paid top prize is still available to win.

The Montana Lottery was created by referendum in 1986. Since then, it has paid more than $459 million in prizes and returned more than $204 million to the State of Montana.

The estimated jackpot for Saturday’s Powerball draw is now $600 million. Originally announced at $475 million this week after no tickets matched all numbers drawn, it was increased to $550 million and again to the current $600 million following strong sales. Tickets are selling in Montana at about 48 tickets per minute.

Saturday’s jackpot is the highest Powerball jackpot ever. It surpassed the previous record of $587.5 million in November 2012. It is one of only nine jackpots to pass the rare $300 million mark.

The jackpot started at $40 million April 3 and increased for 12 draws to where it is now. In that time, Powerball draws in Montana have produced nearly $240,000 in winning tickets.

Two Montana tickets matched four white balls and the Powerball to win $10,000 from Wednesday’s draw.

David Poole of Helena Friday claimed a $10,000 Powerball jackpot prize with a ticket purchased at Town Pump, 2401 N. Montana Ave.; Helena.

David plans to use his Powerball winnings as a nest egg for when he gets out of the Army and also plans to buy more Powerball tickets for the $600 million jackpot drawing on Saturday. Even as he won $10,000, he was thinking of ways he would help others if he happens to match all five numbers and the Powerball on Saturday and bring home the $600 million jackpot prize to Big Sky Country.

The other $10,000 winner from Wednesday was from Belfry and has not yet been claimed.

The estimated jackpot for Saturday’s Powerball draw is now $600 million. Originally announced at $475 million on Monday after no tickets matched all numbers drawn Wednesday, it was increased to %550 million and again to $600 million following strong sales.

Tickets are selling in Montana at about one ticket per second.

Saturday’s jackpot is the highest Powerball jackpot ever. It surpassed the previous record of $587.5 million in November 2012. It is one of only nine jackpots to pass the rare $300 million mark.

The jackpot started at $40 million April 3 and increased for 12 draws to where it is now. In that time, Powerball draws in Montana have produced nearly $240,000 in winning tickets.

Two Montana tickets matched four white balls and the Powerball to win $10,000 from Wednesday’s draw. One ticket was sold in Helena at Town Pump, 2401 N. Montana Ave. The other was sold in Belfry at Belfry Country Store, 216 Broadway Ave.

The estimated jackpot for Saturday’s Powerball draw is now $550 million. Originally announced at $475 million after no tickets matched all numbers drawn Wednesday, it was increased today following strong sales.

Saturday’s jackpot is the second-highest Powerball jackpot to date after the record of $587.5 million in November 2012. It is one of only nine jackpots to pass the rare $300 million mark.

The jackpot started at $40 million April 3 and increased for 12 draws to where it is now. In that time, Powerball draws in Montana have produced nearly $240,000 in winning tickets.

Two Montana tickets matched four white balls and the Powerball to win $10,000 from Wednesday’s draw. One ticket was sold in Helena at Town Pump, 2401 N. Montana Ave. The other was sold in Belfry at Belfry Country Store, 216 Broadway Ave.

The Mega Millions jackpot is also rising, estimated at $190 million for Friday’s draw. Between Powerball and Mega Millions, Montanans have the chance to play for $740 million this weekend, the highest combined jackpot amount to date.

The deadline to buy Mega Millions tickets is 8 p.m. Friday; the deadline to buy Powerball tickets is 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets may be purchased from any Lottery retailer, of which there are more than 800. Visit www.montanalottery.com to locate a retailer.