A CHRISTMAS bonus is in store for five Mega Millions players.
The lottery has five million dollar prizes to hand out after those players won big in a recent Mega Millions game.
Five Mega Millions tickets from a single drawing are each worth $1 million and remain unclaimed[/caption]
The drawing from Friday, December 20 yielded five winners who are in for at least a million dollars.
The winning numbers are 2, 20, 51, 56, 67 and Mega ball 19.
To win the big Mega Millions jackpot, a player must match all five numbers and the Mega ball.
No one matched all the numbers for the big jackpot, so it continues to grow.
For five players, they each missed out on the mega jackpot by just one numbers.
Still, a million dollars is a pretty good payday.
LUCKY TICKETS
One of the million dollar winners is from Illinois.
Lottery officials said the player bought the ticket at a Shell gas station on West Division Street in Coal City.
That ticket was one of five winning tickets worth $1 million.
The others were sold in Indiana (2), Arkansas, and Pennsylvania.
Winners have one year to claim their prize.
HOW TO PLAY
It costs $2 for every Mega Millions ticket.
Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Players pick five numbers from white balls between one and 70.
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.
Then, one number from gold Mega balls between one and 25.
There’s also the quick pick option in which the computer randomly selects the numbers for you.
You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers.
There are eight other options to win, ranging from $1 million to $2.
The U.S. Sun has more on the fifth largest Mega Million jackpot and the winner who finally came forward.
Plus, Mega Millions is making major changes to its game and players will be forced to pay more for a ticket.
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
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.
