The Lotto Matrix: More Popular Mega And (Still) More Texas Tumult

First things first

How much is Friday’s Mega Million jackpot drawing worth? A worthwhile $223 million, or cash option of $99.4 million for those who need all the money now. Two more drawings created two more rollovers, raising the number to 13 since since someone in Ohio matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball for the $112 million drawing April 18.

Cohort Jeff Edelstein busted out the napkin math for Tuesday’s drawing and estimated the 6.4 million tickets sold represented a high point of the $5 ticket era. He also noted the jackpot has climbed slightly more than 10% since Tuesday.

There may be also some cathartic release if someone does win the jackpot considering it has now been seven consecutive drawings since anyone matched all five non-Mega numbers to claim even the top second-tier prize. A total of 11 tickets the last two drawings did match four numbers and the Mega Ball, resulting in payouts totaling $430,000.

How much is Saturday’s Powerball jackpot drawing worth? The Powerball jackpot is $44 million with a cash option of $19.7 million. It is the third drawing since a winning ticket for last Saturday night’s $204.5 million jackpot was sold in California.

It was a good week for Powerball players with $12 million in prizes awarded at the next two tiers. There were $2 million tickets sold in Florida and New Hampshire last Saturday night as both ticked the 2x multiplier while matching all five non-Powerball numbers.

Two $1 million tickets were sold in Maryland, and the other ticket that matched five numbers for a $1 million payday was sold in New York. There were also 22 tickets that matched four numbers and the Powerball over the past week.

There was also a Powerball rarity as the 10x multiplier hit Wednesday night. It was the first time since Jan. 3, 2024, and 16th time overall since Powerball introduced it in October 2015. The 10x multiplier is only available when jackpots are less than $150 million. Eighty-one tickets that matched four numbers with the multiplier paid out $1,000 each.

As the Texas Lottery turns

This week saw another restraining order administered against the Texas Lottery Commission, this time from a Travis County judge Monday preventing both the agency and interim Executive Director Sergio Rey from spending any of the $83.5 million won in the Feb. 17 drawing by a woman from Houston.

The judge wrote in the ruling that the Houston woman “will be irreparably harmed if Defendant Sergio Rey, in his official capacity as acting executive director for the Texas Lottery Commission causes the $83,500,000 jackpot prize to be diminished, wasted, or paid to another before the merits of Plaintiff’s claims are fully and finally adjudicated,” according to KXAN, an NBC affiliate. 

The prize has not been paid because the Texas Rangers are investigating that drawing, as well as an April 2023 winning in which Rook TX, a consortium, purchased nearly every combination of numbers to take home a $95 million prize.

The ruling, though, has the potential to get caught up in a legislative kerfuffle. Senate Bill 3070, which would dismantle the TLC and move logistical oversight of the lottery to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk Monday.

Because the bill arrived in Austin during the final 10 days of the legislative session, Abbott has until June 22 to sign or veto the bill. If he does neither by June 22, it automatically becomes law.

The Texas Scorecard is reporting the TLC has already begun the transition to Licensing and Regulation without the governor’s signature, saying via spokesperson, “While the Commissioners under active terms remain appointed at this time, the agency is actively working on the transition.”

Aristocrat and Michigan Lottery team up

Aristocrat Interactive announced Wednesday it has signed a new six-year contract with the Michigan Lottery to provide a “full solution of iLottery product offerings.” The deal takes effect in July 2026 and also allows for six one-year extensions. Aristocrat first began its relationship with the Michigan Lottery in 2014 through its NeoGames’ iLottery platform and games.

“The Michigan Lottery is a trailblazer in the U.S. iLottery industry, and we’re proud to be a strategic partner for their business,” said Chris Shaban, managing director of Aristocrat Interactive iLottery. “This multi-year agreement is a testament to the proven strength of the Aristocrat Interactive platform, our commitment to innovation, and the long-term value we provide to our customers.”

Aristocrat will give the Michigan Lottery eInstant games, draw-based games, and add-on offerings from its NeoGames Studio. The state agency will continue to have access to Aristocrat’s iLottery technology, highlighted by NeoSphere player account management platform, the NeoDraw draw games system, NeoCube Business Intelligence solutions, and NeoEngage, Aristocrat’s customer and data experience solution.

“Aristocrat Interactive has a proven track record of providing the industry’s leading technology, comprehensive player services, and engaging content for lotteries around the world,” said Suzanna Shkreli, commissioner of the Michigan Lottery. “We’re confident this new deal will help us continue to be a leading innovator in this exciting digital space.”

New Jersey Lottery ponders new courier rules

The New Jersey Lottery announced a Notice of Proposal on Wednesday seeking to amend regulation rules regarding courier services. The state agency has submitted a series of amendments looking to codify “several rules governing couriers in order to allow effective and efficient operation of the courier service model” that were relaxed by the executive director.

The New Jersey Lottery says the proposed rules are also “expected to streamline processes for couriers and enhance the Lottery’s oversight functions.” There is currently a 60-day period for written commentary from the general public and industry stakeholders open until Aug. 1.

Keep running up the score

The Western Canadian Lottery Corporation has a serial winner in its midst. David Serkin of Lethbridge notched his third huge payday in a nine-month span after winning $1 million in the May 3 LOTTO 6/49 Classic draw. Serkin also won $500,000 playing the LOTTO MAX in August and a $1 million prize from the November 16 LOTTO 6/49 draw.

“I know the odds are astronomical,” he told the WCLC with a laugh, adding, “I don’t think it’ll happen again, but I still like buying tickets.

“You check your ticket and if you win, you’re happy. If you don’t, you can always try again,” he added. “I’m a cancer survivor and I’m retired, so I am just grateful for all of it.” 

The odds of winning the top prize for either drawing is 1 in 33,294,800. Put that to the third power, and the odds of someone repeating Serkin’s feat go beyond astronomical and all the way to galactic at 1 in 36,908,741,017,155,392,000,000.

That’s 36.9 sextillion if you’re playing at home.

Serkin, who took his wife on a vacation to Hawaii after winning in November, will go east to his next destination. The couple plan on celebrating the completion of his hat trick in Newfoundland.

Newsworthy Nuggets

Cash Castle back in the spotlight in Illinois: The winner of a $1.4 million jackpot playing Cash Castle last month in Illinois came forward this week to claim his prize. The online instant game offering was the subject of controversy back in March during a Senate committee hearing as lawmakers pondered the legality of online lottery offerings.

FOX 32 is reporting the man, who aptly identified himself as “King of the Castle,” took a flyer on the $30 progressive jackpot game while viewing titles online.

“On that particular day, I was thinking about my family — we’ve been going through some challenging times,” he said in a statement released by the lottery. “I took a chance on Cash Castle, and couldn’t believe it when I actually hit the jackpot. This win truly came at the perfect time.”

It is the second time in as many months Cash Castle had a seven-figure payout, with a player winning more than $1.4 million in April. “King of the Castle” plans to visit a different kingdom — Walt Disney World — with his children and grandchildren to celebrate his win.

Dad better get a good Father’s Day gift: A Georgia resident claimed the first of four $2 million prizes in the Massachusetts Lottery’s “$25,000,000 Mega Money” scratch-off after receiving the ticket as a gift from her father.

Vanesa Menijvar Acosta of Norcross opted for the one-time, lump-sum payment of $1.3 million and plans to buy a house and go to college with her winnings. Massachusetts Lottery officials reported her father bought the winning $50 ticket in East Boston.

All three $25 million grand prizes are still available, as are 12 $1 million prizes in addition to the three remaining $2 million ones.

Who has the biggest active individual state lotto jackpot in the land? The top five is again comprised of large states, with the Texas Lottery offering a $26 million jackpot with a $14.2 million cash option Saturday night.

The twice-weekly California Lotto+ is up to $14 million for Saturday night’s drawing after another two rollovers, and New York once more rounds out the top three with $12.5 available Saturday night. Illinois edged closer to eight figures, with its next drawing offering $9.75 million, and Florida keeps the fifth spot at $6.75 million.

The multi-state Lotto America had its 57th consecutive week come and go without a winner, raising the number of rollovers to 171 since the last jackpot was won April 24, 2024. The jackpot for Saturday night’s 15-state drawing is $37.4 million with a cash option of $16.75 million.

Until next week, dream big, check your numbers, and play responsibly!