The Lotto Matrix: Powerball Reaches $700M, Couriers Running Promos, And More!

First things first

How much is Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing worth? Mega Millions is on the verge of “Big Boy” status with a $234 million jackpot that can also be awarded as a $105.1 million cash option.

It was a mixed bag for top second-tier prize payouts the last two drawings. There were only 12 tickets that matched either all five non-Mega Balls or four numbers and the Mega Ball over those two drawings, but the Aug. 15 edition provided the first multiple seven-figure payouts since June 20.

Last Friday’s tickets that matched the five non-Mega Ball numbers were sold in New York, and the random Megapliers resulted in payouts of $3 million and $2 million. It was the first time multiple second-prize tickets were sold in the same state since the April 15 drawing also produced two millionaires in the Empire State.

There have been 15 rollovers since someone in Virginia matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball on June 27 for the $348 million drawing. 

How much is Saturday’s Powerball jackpot drawing worth? That “Grown Man” is growing fast with an estimated $700 million up for grabs. The jackpot has moved within striking distance of 10th place in Powerball history — $732 million, a number that could be reached by Monday’s drawing if nobody strikes gold on Saturday. There have been 35 rollovers since the last grand prize was won May 31 in California for $204.5 million. The cash option, meanwhile, is a solid “Big Boy” entrant at $316.3 million.

It was another big week of near-misses that resulted in top second-tier prizes. Five tickets sold across Tennessee, Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Texas for Monday and Wednesday drawings matched the five non-Powerball numbers for $1 million paydays, and the Tennessee winner doubled their prize matching the 2x Power Play.

Another 69 tickets contained four numbers and the Powerball, which carries a base prize of $50,000. There was $4.65 million paid out on those winning tickets spanning the last three drawings, with 19 utilizing the Power Play multiplier.

Lotto.com wants you in on the Powerball fun

In celebration of the Powerball jackpot hitting $700 million, Lottery courier Lotto.com, which is live in 11 states, is offering new users a free Powerball ticket upon sign-up and use of a promotional code. Lotto.com noted its customers won more than $4 million from various drawings in July, including a player in Nebraska who won $1 million matching five numbers on Powerball.

You can try to catch lightning in a bottle and win $700 million with your free ticket Saturday, of course. But you can also wait to redeem your freebie; the offer for new users on sign-up is good through Dec. 31.

Entering the ‘Winnerverse’

Not to be outdone, courier Jackpocket launched a promotion of its own this week in which 2,500 people will win $100 in lottery credits. The contest runs through Aug. 29, with 200 winners being drawn daily through Saturday, and 250 per day from Sunday through next Friday.

Jackpocket customers can enter either by opting in on the app or by following instructions to enter over social media. The contest is free to enter as long as a Jackpocket purchase is made.

Who dat playing lottery in Louisiana?

As the NFL season closes in (less than two weeks until opening night!), the Louisiana Lottery has launched a pair of New Orleans Saints-branded instant-win games. Both at a $5 price point, the Saints Game Ready Scratch-Off has a top prize of $100,000, and the Saints Game On! Fast Play offers a $25,000 grand prize.

For both games, tickets that don’t win can be entered into second-chance drawings, with a shot at a $1 million grand prize.

It could be a long Saints season — sportsbooks have their win total set at just 4.5. That means playing the lottery may actually be a higher-percentage bet for fans than the local NFL team scoring a victory in a given week.

Newsworthy nuggets

Winning begets winning: A Michigan man made some “Fast Cash” in the Wolverine State by parlaying a small win into a larger one. The 39-year-old from Kent County, who wished to remain anonymous, won $300 playing the $30 Jumbo Jackpot Slots Fast Cash. After cashing that ticket, he put $20 toward the Super Lucky 7s Fast Cash game, and that led to a $714,891 payout.

“I scanned the ticket on the Michigan Lottery app and started shaking when I saw I’d won $714,891,” said the man to Michigan Lottery officials. “The first thing I did was walk over and give the cashier a hug.”

The man, who bought the tickets at Exit 76-Meadowbrooke in Grand Rapids, plans to pay some bills, put some of his winnings toward his childrens’ college education, and save the rest.

Mass Cash, mass cash: The Massachusetts Lottery launched its second daily Mass Cash drawing Sunday after working out the kinks. The 2 p.m. drawings were supposed to begin July 27, but were delayed due to technical issues. The top prize for the now twice-daily drawing is $100,000.

Who has the biggest active individual state lotto jackpot in the land? Folks, we’re nearing the home stretch for potential Lone Star State chaos. No one claimed the Texas Lottery jackpot yet again as the jackpot has swelled to $47.75 million with a $26 million cash option for Saturday night.

There are only three more drawings before the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation takes over administration of the state-run lottery Sept. 1.

The California Super Lotto Plus continues to give chase in the No. 2 slot, with $36 million or a $16.6 million cash option available Saturday night. Another two rollovers in Florida bumped the Sunshine State’s jackpot to $27 million as it remains on the podium. The Illinois Lottery sits in fourth place, with a jackpot just shy of $14.5 million for Saturday night’s drawing.

There is a new entrant completing the top five this week after someone claimed Indiana‘s $9.9 million Hoosier Lottery last Saturday. Neighboring Michigan slots in at $7.3 million available for its Lotto 47 drawing.

The multi-state Lotto America drawing is worth $2.3 million Saturday night and carries a cash option of $1.03 million.

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