The Lotto Matrix: We Can’t Quit Texas And It’s Time To Road Trip!

First things first

How much is Friday’s Mega Million jackpot drawing worth? It has gotten into “Big Boy” range at $264 million, with a cash option of $117.3 million for those trying to sprint away from Jason Voorhees on this Friday the 13th.

As co-worker Jeff Edelstein notes in his look-ahead for this drawing, Friday the 13th has proven a lucky omen in terms of jackpot winners, delivering seven times. And Michigan has been the hot zone on four of those occasions.

Though the number of rollovers since since someone in Ohio matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball for the $112 million drawing April 18 increased to 15, the drought for winning tickets matching the five non-Mega Ball numbers ended at eight in grand fashion. A winning ticket in Tennessee also had the 4x multiplier ticked, resulting in a $4 million payday. There were a combined 16 tickets with four numbers and the Mega Ball spanning the last two drawings, paying out a total of $520,000.

How much is Saturday’s Powerball jackpot drawing worth? The Powerball jackpot has nearly doubled since last week’s Lotto Matrix, climbing to $80 million following three rollovers. Saturday night’s drawing will mark a fortnight since a winning ticket for the $204.5 million jackpot drawing May 31 was sold in California.

There were two $1 million payouts during the week as single tickets sold in Oregon and California matched all five non-Powerball numbers. There were 14 tickets across the three drawings that contained four numbers and the Powerball, providing $750,000 in payouts.

As the Texas Lottery turns

This week’s favorite lottery saga has courtroom drama as the woman who claims to be the winner of the $83.5 million drawing held Feb. 17 publicly identified herself during testimony for her lawsuit against the Texas Lottery Commission and acting Executive Director Sergio Rey to receive her winnings.

Nexstar reported Kristen Moriarty identified herself on the witness stand Tuesday. The mother of two described herself as “really boring” during her testimony. Her attorney Randy Howry shed some light on the decision for Moriarty to publicly identify herself, telling Nexstar via text: “Tired of being ignored. Ready to fight.”

Rey took the stand to explain the state agency’s position on Moriarty’s claim, saying the TLC knows “she is a claimant” without recognizing her as the winner of the drawing. Rey did testify the TLC acknowledges there was a winner for the drawing.

Sheila Medina, the validations coordinator for the TLC, also testified, saying she was in the room when Moriarty and her attorney presented the winning ticket at the commission’s office. Medina said Moriarty fully filled out the winner’s claim form but validation of the ticket has not been completed.

Rey further testified Moriarty may have to fill out more paperwork and disclosed that the decision to stop the claims process and not award the jackpot was made before he assumed the role of interim executive director. The Texas Rangers are investigating both Moriarty’s win and the $95 million jackpot win from February 2023.

Spring Hill, here we come

The other big news of the week is that someone finally … (cues up The Rock’s voice) FINALLY … claimed the Lotto America jackpot after a whopping 171 rollovers dating back to the last grand prize payout April 24, 2024.

The Tennessee Lottery reported the winning ticket worth $37.37 million was sold at a Publix in Spring Hill, Tennessee, which is approximately 35 miles south of Nashville. And the aforementioned Mega Millions ticket that matched all five non-Mega Ball numbers from Tuesday night’s drawing was sold at the same Publix location.

The Tennessee Lottery awarded the Publix location $5,000 for each winning lottery ticket. Neither winner has come forward to claim their prize, though the winner of the Lotto America drawing has the option to receive a lump sum cash payment of $16.8 million.

Massachusetts machinations

The Bay State had some comedy involving its Mass Cash drawing June 5, when someone forgot to close the door to the mixing hopper prior to start-up. That sent balls flying all over the room where the drawing was held upon activation, invalidating it.

The Massachusetts Lottery followed protocol in having a replacement drawing before 11:59 p.m. local time June 5.

In more routine Bay State lottery news, David Strickland became the first player to win a $1 million or higher payout from the Massachusetts Lottery’s new $25,000,000 Mega Money scratch-off after claiming one of the 12 available $1 million payouts from the $50 scratch-off.

The 64-year-old, who opted for a lump sum cash payment of $650,000 before taxes, told lottery officials per People.com he plans on taking his first vacation in epic style with a trip to Las Vegas. The $25,000,000 Mega Money scratcher was launched May 13.

Newsworthy Nuggets

Connecticut couriers dodge a bullet: While much of the attention surrounding Connecticut bill SB 1235 that was signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Ned Lamont revolved around a ban of online sweepstakes casinos, lottery couriers were able to exhale as a ban on such services is not in the final version of the bill. There was language in the original draft of the bill to ban lotto couriers, but it was removed during the legislative process.

Couriers, though, will have to submit plans to the state’s Department of Consumer Protection detailing the tamper-evident packaging that will be used and its security features, as well as security measures during delivery and contingency plans for unsuccessful deliveries among other aspects.

Minnesota adds age ID verification to self-service kiosks: The Minnesota Lottery announced players who use self-service vending machines will need a valid government-issued ID to access games from the kiosks. In a short release on its website, the state agency says the process is “a quick step that helps make sure all players are 18 or older — and keeps the lottery, fun, safe, and fair for everyone.”

When taking orders turns out grand: Active U.S. Army member Christopher Lehman won more than $1.3 million playing the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Jackpot Spectacular on May 30.

Lehman told lottery officials he signed up to play based on a suggestion from his wife and won the jackpot that day. He budgeted $100 to play the multi-state progressive jackpot game and had been in the Keystone State for barely a month after moving from New Hampshire.

“The bonus popped up and I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I just stared at it for a second. My wife didn’t believe it either. We called the Lottery together, and I put the phone on speaker so we could both hear it was real.”

Lehman said he and his wife Judith will put some of their winnings toward paying off their mortgage and her car.

Who has the biggest active individual state lotto jackpot in the land? 

The Texas watch to see which agency will deliver the next grand jackpot prize continues as Saturday night’s drawing is worth $27.75 million with a cash option of $15.1 million. California continues to hold down the No. 2 spot at $16 million, and New York’s drawing for Saturday night has a top prize of $13.2 million.

Illinois‘ next big drawing has a jackpot $50,000 shy of $10 million, and Florida rounds out the top five at $8.5 million.

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