Mega Millions draw worth $34million ahead of massive Powerball tomorrow night

HOW MANY MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOTS HAVE BEEN WON?

There have been 196 jackpots won by 221 different tickets since the game began in 2002, according to the Mega Millions website.

Another fun fact: 20 jackpots have been shared by two or more winning tickets, according to the site.

SOUTH CAROLINA MAN WON LOTTERY TWICE IN 11 DAYS

The big winner, who is from Grand Strand, in South Carolina, won a $40,000 prize and then a $3million one in the space of 11 days.

He had bought both Mega Millions Quick Pick tickets on July 16 and on July 27 from a Murphy USA gas station in Myrtle Beach, the South Carolina Education Lottery said.

The winner, who is unnamed, said: “I couldn’t believe it.”

“My family was shocked when I broke the news.”

In both cases, he missed the jackpot by just one number. 

‘GOTTA PLAY EVERY DRAWING’

A source told the Seattle Times that with the new drawing comes a responsibility to play every time.

“You can’t skip one drawing to save a few bucks and then have your numbers come up. You’d kill yourself; you’ve gotta play every drawing,” they said.

MEGAMILLIONS WINNERS OF 2021

Here are the previous Mega Millions grand prize winners in 2021:

06/08/2021 — $56 million (Illinois)
05/21/2021 — $516 million (Pennsylvania)
02/16/2021 — $96 million (New York)
01/22/2021 — $1.05 billion (Michigan)

HOW TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AFTER WINNING

Experts advise setting up an LLC or trust to make large purchases without revealing your identity. 

Getting a lawyer and financial advisor is important in ensuring privacy and managing funds for lottery winners.

Some also wear a disguise to claim their hefty checks and do press conferences, a tactic that is legal depending on the state you reside in.

CAN NON-US CITIZENS PLAY?

According to Powerball’s website, the lottery is open to non-US citizens.

Residents of states in which Powerball is not offered are also open to purchase a ticket in a state where it is available.

“Federal and jurisdictional income taxes may apply to any claimed prize money,” the site adds.

POWERBALL RULES

The Powerball website explains: “The Powerball jackpot grows until it is won. Players select five numbers from 1 to 69; and one Powerball number from 1 to 26.

“Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times with the Power Play® option for an additional $1 per play.

“NOTE: The Match 5 + Power Play prize is always $2 million. The 10X multiplier is only in play when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.“

WHEN DO POWERBALL DRAWINGS TAKE PLACE?

Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 11pm ET.

FIRST MONDAY DRAWING

Powerball announced in the summer that they would add a third weekly drawing on Monday nights.

The first Monday drawing took place on Monday August 23.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF WINNING?

The odds of hitting all six lottery numbers are one in 13,983,816.

According to Lottery USA, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are one in 302.6million and the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2million.

WHERE IS LOTTO AMERICA AVAILABLE?

Lotto America is available in Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.

WHAT IS LOTTO AMERICA?

Lotto America is a feature of the Powerball that costs an additional $1 to play.

Players must “select five numbers from 1 to 52 for the red balls, then select one number from 1 to 10 for the Lotto America Star Ball.

“Choose your numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers. 

“Players win the Grand Prize or one of 8 set cash prizes by matching one of the 9 ways to win.”

NINE WAYS TO WIN POWERBALL

There are nine ways to win a prize in Powerball.

All prizes are set cash amounts, except the Grand Prize.

In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel (a betting system where all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool) and determined by sales and the number of winners.

WHERE IS DOUBLE PLAY AVAILABLE?

Double Play is available in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington

PRIZES AND ODDS OF DOUBLE PLAY

Double play has the same odds as winning the Powerball jackpot, but different prizes.

The Powerball is a rolling jackpot while Double Play has a top prize of $10million.

REPORTING LOTTERY SCAMS, PART TWO

The Federal Trade Commission has more information on fake lottery and other scams at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0086-international-lottery-scams.

To file a complaint or get free information call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

If you have been the victim of a scam, you should contact your local police or sheriff’s office, or your state police.

REPORTING LOTTERY SCAMS

If you are told that you can “verify” the prize by calling a certain number, that number may be part of a lottery scam.

Instead of calling it, you should look up the name of the lottery or organization on your own to find out its real contact information.

If you think someone on the phone is trying to scam you, hang up immediately because if you engage them in conversation, your name and contact information could end up on a list that’s shared with other scammers.

NEW NIGHT NEW RULES

The Powerball website outlines the rules of the new Monday drawing and the new Double Play feature.

The website reads, “Players will continue to choose five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. The Power Play® add-on feature will also be available for an additional $1 per play to multiply non-jackpot prizes and will only apply to prizes won in the Powerball drawing.”

“All 48 U.S. lotteries will sell tickets for the Powerball drawing on Monday nights.”

STATES WITH DOUBLE PLAY

Double Play will be available in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington, according to Powerball’s website.

Double Play is the game’s newest feature, and costs an additional $1.

MONDAY NIGHTS

This summer, Powerball announced that they would add a third weekly drawing on Monday nights.

The first Monday night drawing occurred on August 23.

MAINTAINING ANONYMITY, CONTINUED

Buying a lottery ticket in a state that does not require winners to come forward is another effective way to conceal your identity. 

Deleting social media accounts, changing phone numbers, and changing addresses can also be an alternative to remaining anonymous.

CAN YOU REMAIN ANONYMOUS AFTER WINNING THE LOTTERY?

There are several ways to remain anonymous to claim a lottery prize.

One way is to not tell anyone you scored the jackpot or not change much of your lifestyle to avoid having your identity revealed if you won the lottery.

WHEN IS THE POWERBALL CALLED?

A new Powerball drawing occurred Wednesday night.

The new numbers are drawn on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays around 11pm ET.

RECORD PRIZE

On March 30, 2012, Mega Millions made history with the world’s largest prize in any jackpot game to that date: $656 million.

The prize was split three ways by winning tickets in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland.

The record was eventually surpassed by a Powerball jackpot in January 2016.

GAMBLING ADDICTION HELP

The Powerball website provides information and resources about the dangers of gambling addiction.

“For some people gambling can become a problem. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, there are a number of helpful resources listed below,” it reads.

National Council on Problem Gambling
24 Hour Confidential National Helpline
Call:  1-800-522-4700
Chat:  ncpgambling.org/chat
Text:  1-800-522-4700

Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators
www.apgsa.org