Wyoming Man Claims Montana Cash Jackpot

A Wyoming man has claimed a $120,000 jackpot in the Montana lottery.

Montana Lottery officials say Rex Hubbell of Lovell, Wyoming, bought his winning ticket at Rockvale Travel Plaza in Joliet, Montana.

He and his wife travel from Lovell to Billings once a month and he picked up a Montana Cash ticket on their visit in January.

They claimed their winnings on Tuesday.

Meanwhile a Lottery bill in the State Legislature has passed out of committee in the Wyoming State legislature.

The proposal allows the state to offer a state lottery or join a multi-state lottery, such as the Powerball. Proceeds would go to local cities, towns and counties, but the amount of money that would be raised isn't clear.

Legislators backing the proposal point to Wyoming residents, like Hubbell, who spend money buying lottery tickets in other states that have lotteries.

A recent reader poll shows, at the time of this writing, nearly 85% of respondents said that they play a lottery when the travel out of state.

Opponents to the bill say lotteries are a form of gambling and tax that would most hurt the poorest citizens who play the game.