The Lotto Matrix: Growing Mega Jackpot But Still Sluggish Sales

First things first

How much is Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing worth? Our growing “Big Boy” is on the cusp of being a “Grown Man” after another two rollovers swelled the jackpot to $474 million with a cash option of $219.4 million.

It was another quiet week for top second-tier prizes. There have been four drawings without a ticket containing all five non-Mega Balls, and the 12 tickets that contained four numbers and the Mega Ball the last two paid out a total of $380,000.

It has been a sparse September for Mega Millions payouts. Seven drawings have minted only one millionaire as a California ticket had a 3x Megaplier for a $3 million payout for the Sept. 9 drawing.

The 28 tickets that matched four numbers and the Mega Ball spanning the last five drawings equal the total from the first two of the month. Those 56 tickets provided $1.69 million in payouts.

It has been 25 drawings since a player in Virginia matched all numbers for the $348 million jackpot on June 27.

How much is Saturday’s Powerball jackpot drawing worth? Powerball is still an up-and-comer with a $145 million grand prize available that can also be $67.4 million in straight cash, homie. It was an OK week of top second-tier prizes as tickets in California, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut all matched the five non-Powerball numbers.

The Keystone State ticket from Monday night’s drawing provided a $2 million payout thanks to the Power Play option. Another $2.35 million in prizes were split among the 31 tickets that contained four numbers and the Powerball spanning the three drawings.

Ninja napkin math, Mega edition

One point The Lotto Matrix has been watching with interest during this run-up of the Mega Millions jackpot has been ticket sales. Friday’s drawing again marks the largest grand prize available since the April price increase to $5 per ticket, and prevailing wisdom dictates sales should go up from having both a growing jackpot and a lesser Powerball jackpot.

But cohort and napkin math ninja Eric Raskin noted that estimated ticket sales have slid back under 10 million for the last two-plus weeks of drawings since the $1.79 billion Powerball jackpot was hit Sept. 6 by players in Missouri and Texas. Perhaps the next inflection point occurs if the jackpot surpasses the $500 million threshold, which might take place if no one wins Friday night.

It doesn’t have to rhyme with orange

The Colorado Lottery unveiled the ad campaign for its new scratch-off, Broncos Orange Cash Scratch. The $5 scratcher has a $100,000 instant prize available, and the grand prize is a VIP trip for two to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, which is valued at $27,000.

Second through fourth prizes are 2026 season tickets for the Broncos. There are two pairs of 100-level season tickets available for second prize, two pairs of 300-level seats for third prize, and six 500-level seats for fourth. The Lotto Matrix heartily endorses any party willing to bring back the old-school orange “D” with the angry snorting Bronco.

Rah rah Florida Man (or Woman)!

The Florida Lottery had a winner Wednesday night for its $36.5 million jackpot, and it included four numbers that every cheerleader has shouted at some point in their lives.

Two. Four. Six. Eight. And whoever selected 18 and 22 at the Publix in Hallandale Beach to round out the ticket, well, we sure do appreciate!

It was the first time someone won the Florida Lottery jackpot since May 7. No word if cartwheels and handsprings were spun on either occasion.

Newsworthy nuggets

Why are we waiting until the last minute to claim these prizes? Apparently unclaimed jackpots are not restricted to the U.S. The Korea JoonAng Daily is reporting the top two prizes from South Korea’s 1,145th draw on Nov. 9, 2024, have still gone unclaimed. The winners have 40 days to redeem their tickets before the Nov. 10 deadline.

The grand prize-winning ticket, sold at a lottery shop in the Namdong District of Incheon, is worth more than 3 billion won, which comes to $2.13 million. The second ticket, worth a more pedestrian but still respectable 72.7 million won ($51,550 USD), was sold in the Buk District, Pohang, North Gyeongsang.

He can now buy the finest meats and cheeses: A resident of Lowcountry in South Carolina has a habit of buying lottery tickets when he does the grocery shopping. One such excursion has led to an upgrade in foodstuffs after he won the $2 million grand prize for the $20 Double Up! scratch-off.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, purchased the ticket at the Harris Teeter on Dorchester Road in Summerville. It was not his first big win, though, having won $10,000 more than a decade ago.

“I’m buying a house,” the winner told state lottery officials. “I’ve been very lucky.”

And probably a nice refrigerator for all that food.

This is why you put your tickets somewhere they can be found: Alfreda Hawkins was doing some housecleaning when she came upon a box with Virginia Lottery scratch-offs. Turns out she had the ticket for the final grand prize of the $100,000 Extreme Cash scratcher.

“I almost passed out!” she told state lottery officials. “It was amazing!” 

Being Hawkins’ ticket contained the final grand prize, the Virginia Lottery retired the $5 scratcher.

Who has the biggest active individual state lotto jackpot in the land? It’s still Texas, where the Department of Licensing and Regulation is still waiting to write out its first jackpot check. Saturday night’s drawing is for $60 million, with a cash option of $33.4 million also available.

The Golden State remains a distant second at $46 million, actually losing ground to Texas this week as the Lone Star State had a bigger weekly rollover. With Florida’s jackpot claimed Wednesday night, New Jersey slots into the final podium spot this week with a $16.3 million pot available Saturday night that has a $7.57 million cash option.

Michigan also moves up a rung to fourth at $12.1 million, and Ohio rounds out the top five as its Classic Lotto is up to $8.4 million for Saturday night’s drawing.

The multi-state Lotto America has a $3.57 million jackpot with a cash option of $1.65 million available Saturday night.

Until next week, dream big, check your numbers, keep your tickets where you can find them, and play responsibly!