Powerball, Mega Millions jackpot: What you need to know if you win
Here’s what you need to know if you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
FAQ only, USA TODAY
Powerball has soared even higher ahead of the Christmas Eve drawing, with the jackpot now reaching an eye-watering $1.7 billion, making it the fourth-largest prize in the game’s history.
If someone matches all five numbers on Powerball on Wednesday, Dec. 24, they could win a one-time cash prize of $781.3 million.
But if Powerball continues to have no winners after December 24, the game will be on par with the biggest jackpots seen this year. In September, two tickets sold in Texas and Montana won the second-largest jackpot in the game’s history, totaling $1.787 billion.
With an astonishingly large jackpot on the line on the eve of Christmas, people across the country are looking for ways to increase their chances of becoming a millionaire.
Casino.org’s research analyzed the U.S. states, cities, brands, and even individual stores that produced the most lottery winners over the past five holiday seasons, from Christmas Eve (December 24th) to New Year’s Day (January 1st).
Ahead of the Powerball drawing on Wednesday, December 24th, here are the luckiest places to play.
Which state is the luckiest to play the lottery?
According to the study, the top three lucky states to play the lottery are some of the largest in the United States, with Michigan, Florida, and New York taking the top three spots. Below are the top five luckiest states and the total lottery winnings in each state over the past five holiday seasons.
- Michigan – $843,773,500
- Florida – $23,387,000
- New York – $12,446,865
- California – $11,468,861
- Texas – $8,261,500
The luckiest cities to play the lottery
Here are the top five U.S. cities with the most winnings over the past five holiday seasons.
- Grand Blanc, Michigan – $842.4 million
- Orlando, Florida – $10,091,00
- Fresh Meadows, New York – $10,008,500
- Tampa, Florida – $2,124,500
- Anaheim, California – $2,085,363
The luckiest store brands to buy tickets from.
However, Casino.org also tracked the specific store that sold the winning ticket, so luck wasn’t just examined across cities and states. Publix and 7-Eleven shoppers may want to revisit their grocery and convenience stores ahead of the Dec. 24 drawing, as both companies rank in the top two.
Below are the top five luckiest store brands and the total prize money each brand won over the past five holiday seasons.
- 7-Eleven – $11,794,476
- Publix – $5,142,000
- Save Mart – $2,329,255
- Race Track – $2,213,000
- Winn-Dixie – $2,191,500
The biggest states have the luckiest stores.
Just like the top five luckiest states and cities, the top five luckiest stores all come from the largest states in the United States. Here are the luckiest stores from the past five holiday seasons, their locations, and the total prize money won.
- Food Castle | 3035 E. Grand Blanc Rd., Grand Blanc, Michigan – $842,000,000
- 7-Eleven | 1201 N. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, FL – $10,000,000
- No Parsons Service Center | 73-15 Parson Blvd., Fresh Meadows, New York – $10,000,000
- Donut Store | 530 S. Knott Avenue, Anaheim, California – $2,085,363
- Racetrack | 4788 N. Josey Ln., Carrollton, Texas – $2,000,000
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
