TWO lottery players defied the odds to scoop prizes worth $650,000 each – but suffered a blow thanks to a local law.
The players from California won the amount after matching five numbers in the game of chance.
GettyTwo Mega Millions players saw their prizes cut thanks to a state law[/caption]
Their feat would’ve normally saw them land a $1 million sum but they took home $350,000 less.
Prizes in California are allocated based on the number of winners and tickets sold, as reported by The News and Observer.
The players, who have not been identified, bought their tickets from 7-Eleven stores in the San Francisco area.
And the winning slips were bought ahead of the draw on November 26.
No gambler won the draw on November 26, and neither did anyone on Friday.
The prize pot now stands at $541 million, with a cash option of $256 million.
Gamblers must defy the odds of one in 12.6 million to match five numbers.
To scoop the jackpot, players must defy the odds of one in 302.6 million.
Prizes on the popular game range from $2 to the jackpot.
Mega Millions players will soon notice a series of changes and these will arrive in months.
Gamblers will have to fork out $5 to play the game of chance starting in April.
The price hike is just one change that’s coming – with officials revealing that there will be bigger pots and players will have an improved chance of winning.
There will be no breakeven prizes, meaning gamblers will always win more than they spend.
“We are creating a game that both our existing players and people new to Mega Millions will love and get excited about playing,” Joshua Johnson, the lead director of the Mega Millions consortium, said.
Mega Millions changes coming in 2025
Mega Millions is making eight crucial changes to its lottery game starting in April 2025. Each is listed below:
Bigger jackpots occurring more frequently
Odds improved for jackpot wins
Larger jackpot starting points
Jackpots grow faster than before
Tickets include a built-in multiplier that automatically adds 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or even 10X for wins
Matching all five white balls now results in up to a $10 million win
Wins are always more than the cost of the ticket
The cost of a ticket is increasing to $5
Credit: Mega Millions
Johnson also backed the price hike, but some players are less than convinced.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” shopper Cheryl Treasvant told the ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV.
“I have two regular ‘Megas’ that I play, but I play them online and then I get one easy pick, so that would be three tickets, $6 will go to $15…no.”
Fellow shopper Pat Johnson doesn’t believe a ticket is worth $5.
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.
https://www.the-sun.com/money/13004008/mega-millions-california-lottery-prize-cut/