The Lotto Matrix: Mega Millions, Powerball On Growth Spurts

First Things First

How much is Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing worth? Our “Grown Man” is breathing rarified air climbing the jackpot ladder: Friday’s $680 million grand prize has cracked Mega Millions’ all-time Top 10 and ranks ninth. For those itching for cash value, that option is worth a hefty $318.2 million.

There is plenty of space up to No. 8, an $810 million jackpot won Sept. 10, 2024, in Texas. Also of note: The top eight jackpots have been claimed by winners in eight different states. Illinois is the only state that can claim two jackpot winners in the all-time top 10, though the 10th-largest jackpot of $656 million won March 30, 2012, was split with winners in Maryland and Kansas.

The last two drawings were relatively quiet on the second-prize front. Only one ticket matched the five non-Mega Ball numbers, but the random 3x Megaplier means the ticket sold in Illinois for Tuesday night’s drawing paid out $3 million.

There were 19 tickets that contained four numbers and the Mega Ball, paying out $700,000 combined. Two tickets had the 10x Megaplier, resulting in $100,000 paydays for the lucky holders.

There have been 33 drawings since a player in Virginia matched all numbers for the $348 million jackpot June 27.

How much is Saturday’s Powerball jackpot drawing worth? Our growing “Big Boy” has swelled to $334 million for Saturday night, an impressive 13.2% increase from last Saturday. Those wishing immediate gratification can take the cash value option at $163.7 million.

It was a decent three-drawing run for Powerball players. Seven tickets matched all five numbers without the Powerball. The ticket sold in Pennsylvania last Saturday had the power-play option checked, resulting in a $2 million payout. Wednesday night’s drawing provided the first $1 million ticket sold in Delaware this year.

Monday night’s drawing produced three $1 million winners from New York, the second time this year a drawing had three second-prize winners from one state. Three tickets in Texas did likewise in the Sept. 6 drawing worth $1.787 billion — the second-largest in U.S. jackpot lottery history — split by winners in Missouri and Texas.

An additional 42 tickets contained four numbers and the Powerball, resulting in $2.7 million in payouts. Eight of those tickets had the power play option, with three winners receiving $150,000 payouts thanks to the 3x multiplier for last Saturday night’s drawing.

There have been 20 rollovers since that Sept. 6 jackpot was claimed, with both winners opting for the $410 million cash value option.

A little bit more on that New York Powerball trifecta

The New York State Gaming Commission noted via email to The Lotto Matrix that all three $1 million tickets for Monday’s drawing were purchased at V&C Taneja, Inc., in Yonkers. That is some good gaming news for a city still coming to grips with Yonkers Raceway-based MGM Empire City withdrawing its application for a full casino license in the Empire State.

The commission also pointed out that multiple winners from a single venue is not entirely improbable, as a Schenectady man won both prizes on a Cash4Life ticket at the same location in 2023.

PA Senate passes bill allowing lottery winners to be anonymous

The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed SB 73 on Monday, which would allow lottery winners who claim prizes of $100,000 or more to be anonymous unless they waive such confidentiality.

State Sen. Lisa Baker authored the bill, telling the Pennsylvania Capital-Star she developed the proposed law after an acquaintance won $100,000 via scratch-off and was inundated by scam calls and strangers requesting money. Baker felt technology has made such outreach by those parties easier since the start of the state lottery.

“In addition to numerous requests from strangers asking for help with everything from buying a car and paying health care bills, scammers actually called and harassed her grandparents and her mother,” Baker said. “I believe we owe more protection to certain lottery winners, and Senate Bill 73 works toward fulfilling that goal.”

The bill moved to the House, where it was assigned to the Finance Committee.

A downturn in Nebraska numbers

The Nebraska Lottery had a steep 16% downturn in sales for Fiscal Year 2025, according to the state auditor’s annual report released Monday. The $36 million drop in sales contributed to nearly $10 million less in transfers to beneficiary funds.

Lottery ticket sales plunged 23.2% ($25.6 million) compared to Fiscal Year 2024, while scratch-off sales declined 9.5% ($10.5 million). The sharper decline in lottery ticket sales can be partly attributed to fewer big Powerball jackpots in FY 2025 as ticket sales for the multistate lotto were down $21.6 million. But auditor Mike Foley also feels other forms of gaming, including brick-and-mortar casinos, are contributing factors.

“The longer-term impact of new forms of gaming on future Lottery proceeds seems ominous,” Foley stated in his report. “The protracted course of lottery ticket sales is what matters most, and only time will tell if it experiences a significant ongoing decline.”

“We share the Auditor’s concern regarding the decline in revenue during the last fiscal year, which directly impacts the vital programs funded by the Nebraska Lottery,” said Lottery Director Brian Rockey, according to Chadron Radio. “The support we provide for the environment, education, the Nebraska State Fair, and compulsive gambler’s assistance is our constitutional directed duty.”

“The gaming landscape in Nebraska has changed dramatically in recent years,” Rockey continued. “But as the Auditor noted, the Lottery has seen revenue surges during recent high jackpot periods, confirming that Nebraskans are still enthusiastic lottery players.”

Newsworthy nuggets

The UAE has its first big lottery winner: The United Arab Emirates reported its first 100 million AED Lucky Day Jackpot grand prize winner ($23.12 million USD) from its Oct. 18 drawing. The drawing requires players to match six of 31 numbers in the “Days” set in one pot and one of 12 in the “Months” pot to win the grand prize. The odds of winning are approximately 1 in 8 million, and a 50 AED ticket costs approximately $13.60.

The grand prize was won with the 23rd drawing for Lucky Day Jackpot, which the UAE Lottery launched in December. The next drawing will be held Nov. 1.

Plenty of D.C. Dollars: The DC Lottery is reporting a woman claimed the $2 million top prize in the district’s first $50 scratch-off, the Extreme 500X Fortune. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous but is in her 70s, has been a civil servant for more than 30 years.

She had begun exploring retirement options but told lottery officials that the $1.52 million cash option she took “changes everything!”

“We love to see our players win life-changing prizes like this, and we could not be happier for our latest big winner,” said DC Lottery Executive Director Randy Burnside. “The Extreme 500X Fortune offers players some of the best odds of winning a $2 million top prize you will see in the lottery industry (1:227,497.50), and we cannot wait to find out who the next DC Lottery millionaire will be.”

There is still one other $2 million top prize available for the $50 scratcher, which launched in April.

Who has the biggest active individual state lotto jackpot? It’s still Texas until someone in the Lone Star State wins the darn thing. Saturday night’s jackpot is $68.75 million, and there’s a cash option for $38.9 million.

New Jersey maintains the No. 2 spot following another three drawings without a winner. The jackpot is $22 million and the cash option $10.37 million as the rollover count reached 59 since the last jackpot was won May 22.

Michigan again holds steady at No. 3, taking the final podium spot with a $16.55 million jackpot available Saturday night. California returns to the list in fourth at $10 million, and at $9.6 million Ohio has fended off Arizona‘s The Pick ($9.4 million) to complete the top five.

The multi-state Lotto America, meanwhile, is offering a $5.38 million jackpot Saturday night with a cash option of $2.55 million available.

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

(In-story photo courtesy D.C. Lottery)