A LUCKY lottery player has done what millions of players dream of, purchasing a winning ticket worth $1 million.
The winning Mega Millions ticket was sold at a gas station in Texas.
The unidentified winner bought a quick pick ticket at a Toot’n Totum.
The gas station-convenience store hybrid has dozens of stores throughout the Lone Star State, but the winning ticket was sold at the chain’s Amarillo location at 5409 East Amarillo Boulevard.
Amarillo is the 14th most populous city in the Texas panhandle and has an estimated population of about 200,000 people.
The winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing were 19, 23, 30, 33, 50, and Mega Ball 25.
WINNER WINNER
The winning ticket had the first five numbers, but did not get the Mega Ball.
If the anonymous winner had purchased the Megaplier, they could have won up to $5 million.
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or five times the prize.
It costs an additional $1 per play.
Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, a Megaplier is drawn from a pool of 15 balls, marked with 2X, 3X, 4X, or 5X to signify the multiplier.
Still, securing a winning ticket with a $1 million jackpot is no easy feat.
While a Mega Millions ticket typically costs around $2, the odds of winning $1 million are 1 in 12,607,306.
“Congratulations to the lucky winner at Store #3!” Toot’n Totum wrote on its Facebook page.
“That’s great. Person is a little bit richer,” one of Toot’n Totum’s followers wrote.
“Heck yeah. I’m excited for the customer. It’s nice to see someone we know be blessed,” another follower commented.
How to Play Mega Millions
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per play.
Players must pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers.
- Five numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls)
- One number from 1 to 25 (gold Mega Ball)
Players can also select Easy or Quick Pick options, which automatically chooses the numbers for you at random.
There are nine ways to win a prize in Mega Millions, with prizes ranging from $2 to a varying jackpot.
- Jackpot Prize – Odds: 1 in 302,575,350 – five matching numbers and matching Mega Ball number
- $1,000,000 Prize – Odds: 1 in 12,607,306 – five matching numbers
- $10,000 Prize – Odds: 1 in 931,001 – four matching numbers and matching Mega Ball number
- $500 Prize – Odds: 1 in 38,792 – four matching numbers
- $200 Prize – Odds: 1 in 14,547 – three matching numbers and matching Mega Ball number
- $10 Prize – Odds: 1 in 606 – three matching numbers
- $10 Prize – Odds: 1 in 693 – two matching numbers and matching Mega Ball number
- $4 Prize – Odds: 1 in 89 – one matching number and matching Mega Ball number
- $2 Prize – Odds: 1 in 37 – matching Mega Ball number
The overall chance of winning any of the prizes above is 1 in 24.
Many states also offer a Megaplier feature to increase non-jackpot prizes ($2 to $1,000,000) by two, three, four, or five times.
Each Megaplier costs $1 per play.
Before each Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday and Friday nights, a Megaplier is drawn from a pool of 15 balls.
- Five balls are marked with 2X
- Six balls are marked with 3X
- Three balls are marked with 4X
- One ball is marked with 5X
“Pretty cool that it came from my store!!” another user shared.
Selling a winning lottery ticket comes with some major perks.
The additional publicity helps boost business and draws more hopeful lottery players in.
Mega Millions also provides stores with one percent of the total jackpot prize money.
That means that the owners of Toot’n Totum’s Amarillo store location will receive $10,000 in winnings.
MEGA MINUS
While the anonymous winner may have won the $1 million jackpot, they likely won’t walk away with that money.
Instead, they’ll have to make a difficult decision once they claim their prize.
Lottery winners have two options when claiming their winnings.
They can receive a one-time, lump-sum payment equal to all the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool, also known as the “cash option.”
Some winners choose the “annuity option,” where the $1 million prize is split across 30 payments.
These winners receive one immediate payment, followed by 29 annual payments.
Each payment is five percent larger than the previous payment to account for factors including lifestyle creep and inflation.
In both options, winners also have to pay federal and state taxes.
Texas, however, is one of the few states without a state income tax, which will save the winner a few thousand dollars.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
No matter which option they choose, the Mega Millions $1 million winner won’t receive a million dollars.
Instead, they’ll likely walk away with around $360,000 or $760,000.
If they choose to take a lump sum, $1 million drops down to about $520,000.
After a 24% federal tax – $124,800 – and an additional federal tax, typically up to 37%, minus the withheld 24%, of $31,700, the winner will be left with just over $363,400.
If the winner chooses to take the annuity option, they’ll receive the full $1 million – minus 24% for federal taxes, or around $240,000, and walk away with around $760,000.
However, that $760,000 will be split up into 30 annual payments.
TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
The Texan winner has up to 180 days to claim their prize – and decide which option is best for them.
Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesday and Friday at 11 pm ET.
Nobody won the Mega Millions major jackpot, which involves accurately guessing all five numbers and the Mega Ball number.
Another individual did, however, win a $1 million jackpot prize from Tuesday’s drawing, with a second winning ticket sold in Illinois.
The new estimated jackpot is $358 million, or about $170 million if a winner chooses the cash option.
The U.S. Sun regularly reports on the lottery, including unclaimed jackpots and lottery ticket expirations.
Plus, learn more about lottery winners, what they spend their winnings on, and common mistakes winners make.
Responsible gambling
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 1-800-522-4700 or go to ncpgambling.org/chat