The Lotto Matrix: Scary Big Mega, Powerball Jackpots

First Things First

How much is Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing worth? Our “Grown Man” continues to chase the No. 8 spot on Mega Millions’ all-time jackpot list with Friday night’s grand prize a hefty $754 million. For those who don’t want to stalk annuity payments like Michael Myers, the cash option is a solid $352.8 million. According to Mega Millions officials, this is the largest Halloween jackpot drawing ever held.

The last two drawings were somewhat hit and miss for Mega Millions players. Last Friday’s drawing produced a $2 million winner in Connecticut — the first time this year a Mega Millions ticket in the Nutmeg State produced a seven-figure payout, and another 12 that matched four numbers and the Mega Ball led to $340,000 in winnings. Tuesday night’s drawing was a much different story for second-tier prizes: no millionaires, and only eight tickets had four numbers and the Mega Ball, resulting in $230,000 worth of payouts.

There have been 35 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 “Big Boy” continues to grow with a clean $400 million up for grabs Saturday night. For those who like their action faster than Jason Vorhees chases his prey around New York City, the available cash option is worth $190.7 million.

There were three tickets sold over the last three drawings that matched the five non-Powerball numbers, with the one in Virginia last Saturday worth $2 million since the Power Play option was ticked. Of the 32 tickets that contained four numbers and the Powerball, seven had the Power Play option as the combined payouts for all such tickets totaled $1.95 million.

There have been 23 rollovers since Powerball’s mammoth $1.787 billion jackpot was won Sept. 6, with both winners opting for the $410 million cash value option.

October napkin math, Powerball edition

October will mark the first time since June that Powerball monthly payouts on tickets that matched five numbers will be less than Mega Millions. While Powerball had a higher volume of winners — 17 compared to the seven for Mega Millions heading into Friday night — only two of those winners ticked the Power Play option that resulted in $2 million payouts.

In contrast, four of the seven Mega Millions’ seven-figure payouts had Megapliers of 3x or higher, including one 4x and one 5x. As a result, Mega Millions paid out $21 million on those tickets compared to $19 million for Powerball.

The other second-tier prize, which has a $50,000 base for matching four numbers and the Powerball, paid out $10.65 million for the month. That was down considerably from September when players were chasing that billion dollar-plus jackpot. The 168 October winners were slightly more than half of the 322 who did likewise for the Sept. 6 jackpot drawing alone.

The random Power Play multiplier also was unkind to players for much of October: The 2x came up in 10 of the 13 drawings, and 3x came up in the other three.

Jersey Strong and courier strong

After 60 rollovers, the New Jersey Lottery Pick-6 was finally won Saturday when a ticket sold via Jackpocket to a Hudson County player matched all six numbers for the $22 million jackpot.

New Jersey Lottery officials noted it was the largest win from a courier-bought ticket in Garden State history. It was the first time the Pick-6 jackpot was claimed since May 22 and the second-largest of the year behind the $32 million jackpot won Jan. 20 by someone who bought a ticket in Ocean County.

“Jackpocket has been a great partner with the New Jersey Lottery and we are excited for the second largest win of the year from a ticket ordered using Jackpocket,” said Lottery Executive Director James Carey. “Customers have enjoyed using their services.”

“Jackpocket’s mission is to make the lottery more accessible and responsible,” added Pete Sullivan, founder of Jackpocket and SVP of Lottery at DraftKings. “We’re proud to have been the first registered lottery courier service in New Jersey, a state leading the way in innovation. Of the more than $1 billion in lottery prizes won by customers across the nation from ordering tickets using Jackpocket, millions have been claimed right here in New Jersey, a testament to the state’s enthusiasm and our shared success.”

Illinois bill proposes to ban credit card sales for lottery

State Rep. Curtis J. Tarver II submitted HB 4149 earlier this month ahead of the just-completed Illinois veto legislative session that would amend the state’s lottery law to ban credit card sales for lottery tickets.

The bill, which picked up a co-sponsor last Friday in Rep. Marti Deuter, “prohibits a person from selling a lottery ticket or share on a credit basis. Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that an automated teller machine (ATM) located within a casino shall not be able to perform cash advances on credit cards. Prohibits a person from using a credit card to participate in a gambling game.”

The bill was assigned to the Rules Committee after first reading. It would be eligible to be brought up next year since 2025 is the first year of the two-year General Assembly in Illinois.

Earlier this year, the Illinois Gaming Board adopted rules that included a ban on using credit cards for sports wagering.

Newsworthy Nuggets

Virginia is for second-place lottery winners. In addition to the aforementioned $2 million Powerball winner who bought the ticket in Richmond, the $2 million winner in the Old Dominion from the Sept. 26 Mega Millions drawing claimed the prize this week after saying “I about passed out!” upon realizing the ticket was worth seven figures.

The winner, who wished to remain anonymous, told Virginia Lottery officials that Easy Pick was used. The computer spit out 4-21-27-33-49, and the winner picked up the second million by splurging for the Megaplier. That person had the only ticket matching five numbers in the Sept. 26 drawing, bucking 1 in 12,629,232 odds.

Who has the biggest active individual state lotto jackpot? Everything is still bigger in Texas, including the top prize of $71 million up for grabs Saturday night for state-run lotteries across the country. The cash option has reached $40.3 million for Saturday night’s drawing. It’s good, but not good enough to fully cover the buyout of a top-tier college football coach.

With New Jersey’s Pick-6 jackpot reset, Michigan slides into the shotgun seat with a $17.75 million jackpot for Saturday night. California is back on the podium in third at $12 million. Arizona not only cracked the top five but pipped Ohio for fourth as The Pick has $10.1 million at stake Saturday night. The Classic Lotto in the Buckeye State is just shy of eight figures at $9.9 million.

The multi-state Lotto America has a $5.87 million jackpot Saturday night with a cash option of $2.89 million available.

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