PRESS RELEASE
March 31, 2018
Contact:
Carole Bober Gentry
Maryland Lottery
(410)-230-8725
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Winning Mega Millions Ticket Sold in New Jersey
Mega Millions produces fourth-largest jackpot in game’s history,
and tenth-largest in U.S. lottery history
BALTIMORE – The New Jersey Lottery sold a jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $521 million for the Friday night Mega Millions drawing. It’s the fourth-largest jackpot in the history of Mega Millions and the tenth-largest in U.S. lottery history.
It’s the first time the Mega Millions jackpot has been hit since January 2018, and the winner will have a choice between the estimated annuity value of $521 (before taxes) or the estimated lump-sum cash value of $317.2 (before taxes).
“A hearty congratulations to New Jersey for their big Mega Millions win,” said Gordon Medenica, Mega Millions Lead Director and Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director. “The whole country can’t wait to meet the newest millionaire, but we all shared in the fun of playing.”
It was the first Mega Millions jackpot hit since a $451 million prize won in Florida in the Jan. 5, 2018 drawing. In the 24 drawings during the Mega Millions jackpot roll that ended with the March 30 win in New Jersey, there were 16,645,612 winning tickets sold across the country. Last night’s Mega Millions drawing produced 2,765,128 winning tickets at all prize levels, including the jackpot winner and twosecond-tier winning tickets sold in Ohio and Texas. Those tickets matched the five white balls to win $1 million each.
The largest jackpot in Mega Millions history was $656 million on March 30, 2012, when winning tickets were sold in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland. The largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history was $1.586 billion in a Powerball drawing on Jan. 13, 2016, when winning tickets were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee.
Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET. Tickets are $2 and are sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players can add the Megaplier option for an additional $1, which increases all prizes except for the jackpot. For more information, visit megamillions.com
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Carole Bober Gentry
(Formerly Carole Everett)
Managing Director of Communications
Maryland Lottery and Gaming
1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-230-8725
mdlottery.com
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