It was no April Fools' joke: Two Kentucky Lottery players in Louisville won $25,000 a year for life on Monday.

The two winning tickers were both sold in Louisville and won the second prize in the Lucky for Life game, according to a news release from Kentucky Lottery.

As a result, the winners will receive a $25,000 a year payout for the rest of their lives.

One other winning ticket was sold in South Dakota.

The $25,000 payout before taxes has a guaranteed minimum of 20 years and would become part of the winner's estate if they pass away sooner, lottery officials said.

Instead of the yearly payment, winners of the Lucky for Life second prize may also choose a one-time cash option of $390,000, according to Kentucky Lottery.

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Kentucky Lottery officials have not yet heard from either of the winners.

The winners have 180 days from Monday night's drawing to claim their prize at Kentucky Lottery headquarters in Louisville.

Lottery officials are conducting security checks Tuesday morning at the retailers where the lucky tickets were sold, and the names of the retailers will be released once the checks are complete.

The retailers will each receive a $5,000 selling bonus, according to Kentucky Lottery.

Lucky for Life is played in 26 different states, with drawings held on Mondays and Thursdays.

Players choose five numbers between 1 and 48 and then one "Lucky Ball" number between 1 and 18.

The top prize is $1,000 a day for life that is paid weekly. A ticket costs $2.

The odds of winning the second prize are 1 in 1,813,028, while the odds of winning the top Lucky for Life prize are 1 in 30,821,472.

This story will be updated.

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com or 502-582-7030.