Happy New Year!
You know what would make it even happier? A $425 million estimated payday. PA Lottery players have a chance to rake in that heap of money to kick off 2019 if they have a winning Mega Millions ticket. The first drawing of the year is a big one. here are the winning numbers:
Winning numbers: 57-70-34-62-44
Mega Ball: 14
Stocked up on a pile of tickets? Don’t go through them one-by-one. Use you PA Lottery mobile app to scan your tickets for winners.
Should there be no winner in this drawing, the next one will yield one of the top five biggest jackpots in Mega Millions history.
One PA player already a millionaire
One lucky Pennsylvanian already won pretty big with Mega Millions. According to Fox43 local news, D&J Sandwich Shop in Reading, PA sold a winning $1 million ticket for the Dec. 28 draw. The ticket matched the five winning numbers, but failed to match the Mega Ball.
That winner has not come forward to claim winnings yet. It is not uncommon for winners to take some before collecting big paydays. In fact, the winner of the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot back in October still has not come forward.
Should you win a big chunk of change in the lottery, it is best to consult with an attorney before signing the back of your ticket. Many states, including Pennsylania, allow you to remain anonymous about your winnings. However, forming a trust is the best way to do that. In order to do that, you want to sign your ticket with the name of the trust, not your name.
Mega Millions odds and payouts
Wondering what your chances are for the nearly half a billion dollar payday? Here is a look at your chances to win everything from a minimum payday to a big jackpot:
| # of matching white balls | # of matching yellow balls | Prize amount | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| 5 | 0 | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 | 1 | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 | 0 | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 | 1 | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 | 0 | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 | 1 | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 | 1 | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| 1 | 0 | $2 | 1 in 37 |
| Overall chance of a prize | 1 in 24 |
