MO Lottery Blog

There are other ways to win

Everyone is dreaming about Mega Millions today. Tonight's jackpot is $640 million. That would buy you several private islands, mansions in every state, the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals™, or just about anything you care to imagine.

But there are lots of ways to win playing the Missouri Lottery. Some players tonight might miss the jackpot by one number, but if you add Megaplier to your ticket, you could turn a $250,000 near miss into $1 million.

Also on tap tonight is a $151,000 Show Me Cash jackpot. The first player to ever win two Show Me Cash jackpots was announced this week. A Moberly man won $335,000 in 2009, and claimed another $174,000 jackpot from the March 23 drawing.

The last two Pick 4 combinations were 9-9-9-3 and 0-4-4-4. If you played either combination straight/box for $1, exact order paid $3,750 and any order paid $750. A $1 straight play won $6,000. Players collected more than $72,000 between the two drawings.

A player in Kirksville won $1 million playing Powerball this week. And don't forget about Scratchers. A couple of friends, also in the Kirksville area, split a $30,000 Scratchers prize. Does it have to be Mega Millions? Or would a $2.4 million Lotto jackpot work for you? How about a chance to win Cardinals® gear?

Cash Jackpot

With everyone dreaming about the $500 million Mega Millions jackpot, new people are playing the game. We're getting more questions, like, "Why is the cash payout lower than the jackpot?"

The advertised Mega Millions jackpot is $500 million and might grow even higher. That amount is what you would collect if you select the annuity paid out over a period of 26 years. The Lottery takes the cash in the prize fund designated to pay the jackpot prize and invests it in bonds to meet those payments. Typically, that amount is roughly half of the advertised jackpot, but with low interest rates, the lump sum cash value amount has been running slightly higher than half in order to fund the jackpot.

Either way, winners will pay taxes on any prize awarded in a calendar year. The Lottery will withhold 29 percent for taxes, but your tax bracket is determined by your income. (I'm pretty sure $500 million will put you in the top tax bracket!)

Some people might feel they can do better investing on their own, while others might like the concept of guaranteed income for 26 years. Regardless, winners would probably be wise to consult a tax professional before claiming the prize.

It all starts with a ticket. Good luck!

Where it's at

There were no jackpot winners last night, but several Missourians won big. Thirteen players won $847 playing Lotto and 27 players won $250 playing Show Me Cash. The Powerball jackpot rolled to $60 million, but three players won $1 million by matching all five white-ball numbers, including one in Missouri. In addition to players in Iowa and Texas, someone who shops at Hy-Vee in Kirksville is also holding claim to a $1 million prize. Check your tickets.

That wasn't the only big winner. A Club Keno player at Billy's Roadside Bistro in Wentzville matched all the numbers on an 8-Spot ticket to win $40,260. That's the power of the progressive jackpot kicking in - just think what Double Bulls-Eye does to that prize.

Another day, another jackpot - tonight's Show Me Cash jackpot is $130,000. Got your ticket?

Mega Millions!

The Mega Millions jackpot rolled last night to $476 $500 million, becoming the largest Lottery jackpot ever offered. A total of 47 players from all participating Lotteries matched five white-ball numbers to win $250,000, including one in Missouri, and four of those winners used Megaplier to increase that prize to $1 million.

The winning $250,000 ticket in Missouri was sold at Reeves Boomland in Charleston.

Three other players in Missouri matched four white-ball numbers and the Mega Ball to win $10,000. Winning tickets were sold at the following locations:

• Break Time in Higginsville
• Express Market in St. Ann
• Branson West Conoco in Branson

Club Keno turned in another big winner last night. A winning 7-Spot ticket with Bulls-Eye was sold at Du Bowl Lanes Bar in St. Louis. The lucky player will collect a $14,165 prize.

There's no time off from jackpot fever this week. Tonight's Powerball jackpot is $50 million, Lotto is up to $2.3 million and the Show Me Cash jackpot is $110,000. Got your ticket?

Mega Millions!

Tonight's $363 million Mega Millions jackpot is the fourth largest Lottery jackpot in U.S. history. The estimated cash value is $259.8 million before taxes, which, as Phillips and Company pointed out on Y98 in St. Louis today, is about the same amount that Albert Pujols got in his 10-year contract.

The only difference is you just need to hit one home run. It's ok to get excited, but remember, it only takes one ticket to win.

PS: If you need to replace a Pujols jersey, enter to win Cardinals® gear from the Missouri Lottery. You could win a different prize pack each week. Like the Missouri Lottery on Facebook to find the link.

Where it's at

The Mega Millions jackpot rolled, but plenty of players won big in Missouri last weekend. There was a Show Me Cash jackpot winner, and one player won $250,000 playing Mega Millions. Two players in other states won $1 million with the Megaplier. The $250,000 goes to a player in Osage Beach who matched all five white-ball numbers. If you shop at Rapid Robert's on KK in Osage Beach, check your tickets.

Two other players matched four white-ball numbers and the Mega Ball to win $10,000. Winning tickets were sold at the following locations:

• Fastrip, 1904 E. 32nd, in Joplin
• Hanley Mobil, 6800 N. Hanley Road, in Berkeley

One player matched all five winning numbers in Show Me Cash Friday night to win the $174,000 jackpot. That winning ticket was sold at Circle K, 1730 W. Morley, in Moberly. Tonight's jackpot is already back up to $78,000.

The Powerball jackpot rolled to $50 million, but a player in Florida did win $1 million by matching five white-ball numbers. In Missouri, one players matched four white-ball numbers and the Powerball to win $10,000. That winning ticket was sold at Discount Smoke & Liquor in Pineville.

Not to outdone while there are good sports on TV, Club Keno also produced a big winner. A player matched seven spots on an 8-Spot ticket with Double Bulls-Eye to win $9,000. That winning ticket was sold at Bernies Bar & Grill in Avilla.

That's a lot of winners from around the state last week, and we've got another big jackpot Tuesday night. The Mega Millions jackpot currently stands at $356 million. If won in Missouri, it would be the largest single jackpot in Missouri Lottery history. If you don't play regularly, now is the time to get a ticket, but please play responsibly. It only takes one ticket to win.

Jackpots

The Powerball jackpot was hit by a player in New Jersey last night and another player in Connecticut won $1 million by matching five white-ball numbers. That means the next Powerball jackpot is $40 million. Remember, you can win $2 million by matching five white-ball numbers with Power Play.

The other jackpots are growing. Tonight's Show Me Cash jackpot is $152,000. Friday's Mega Millions jackpot is a whopping $290 million. And don't forget about the $2.2 million Lotto jackpot on Saturday.

We don't talk about Pick 3 and Pick 4 much, but players have been winning big on combinations like 5-0-0 last night and 5-5-7-7 on March 14. Look for a promotion featuring those games next month. There are so many ways to play and win. It's ok to get excited.

New poll

There's a new poll along the sidebar asking about your favorite spring activity. There are only a few choices, so if you enjoy something different, feel free to leave a comment below. There's bird watching, camping, painting spring blossoms, golf... oh, and playing for a $290 million Mega Millions jackpot.

Mega Millions!

The Mega Millions jackpot rolled, although two players in other states won $1 million with the Megaplier® and two players in Missouri won $250,000 by matching all five white-ball numbers. Between all participating Lotteries, 68 players won $250,000 prizes in last night's drawing. The two winning tickets in Missouri were sold at the following locations:

• Parkside Mini Mart in Troy
• QuikTrip, 6312 S. Lindbergh, in St. Louis

Friday's Mega Millions jackpot now stands at $290 million! If you haven't already, it's time to get in the game. Remember, it only takes one ticket to win - please play responsibly.

Win with MO Lottery!

You'll begin to see a transformation on most of our web properties this year. We've already updated many of the game logos and changes to our Facebook page and website are coming soon. To celebrate your patronage on the Internet, we're going to offer a number of promotions to our fans, friends and followers via social media. The first promotion, "Win Cardinals® Gear," is already underway, and you'll have chances to win tickets and merchandise all summer - just for interacting with us on the blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Become a My Lottery member at Molottery.com, a fan of the Missouri Lottery on Facebook and follow Captain Lotto on Twitter for the inside scoop about contests and giveaways exclusive to social media. It's ok to get excited!