A Georgia Mega Millions player hit the jackpot – well, almost. Scoring $1 million in Friday's drawing, the lucky gambler matched five numbers: 19, 20, 22, 47, and 58, with the Mega Ball being 01. According to Atlanta News First, two other tickets sold also cashed in on the game, netting $10,000 apiece.
While the Peach State reveled in its million-dollar win, the Lone Star State didn't do too bad either, with a resident also raking in the same amount. Mega Millions informed these winnings as a step below hitting the big jackpot. Having missed out on the top prize this time, players are now setting their sights on next Tuesday's drawing, which boasts a staggering estimated $735 million jackpot, the sixth-largest in the game's history.
December 8 marked the last win of the Mega Millions jackpot when two tickets, purchased at the same Chevron station in Los Angeles, split a hefty $394 million. This nationwide game entertains hopefuls in 45 states, alongside Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with the expectation of turning dreams into reality.
The $1 million ticket in Georgia was conveniently bought through a mobile app, as stated by the Georgia Lottery and corroborated by WSBTV. Claiming prizes is an affair of forms for winners in Georgia; those lucky enough to scoop over $600 need to visit the lottery headquarters or its district offices with the necessary identification to stake their claim, according to the same source.
With a multitude of places to buy a ticket, from mobile apps to gas stations, and a cornucopia of potential rewards, including that tantalizing $735 million prize on the horizon, the lottery continues to be a staple of American hope and aspiration – a bet on the chance for a different, more prosperous life, played out twice weekly across the nation.
