$1.3 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot Goes To Illinois

Mega Millions players in Illinois have been urged to check their tickets after someone in the state won a jackpot of $1.337 billion in the latest drawing on Friday, July 29.

The Mega Millions jackpot had been rolling since April 15, and over the last couple of weeks the growth has accelerated at lightning speed. The advertised amount for Friday’s drawing kept being bumped up after it had passed the billion-dollar mark, amid a ticket frenzy all over the country.

A solitary ticket matched the winning numbers - 13, 36, 45, 57 and 67, plus the Mega Ball of 14, and Illinois turned out to be the lucky state where the entry was sold.

It was purchased at the Speedway at 885 E Touhy Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60018., instantly make the player the biggest winner in Illinois Lottery history and the second-biggest winner in Mega Millions history.

Harold Mays, Illinois Lottery Director, congratulated the winner and offered advice on what to do next. The suggested steps are to sign the back of their ticket, get professional and legal advice, then make an appointment to claim their prize from the Illinois Lottery.

Mays said: “We have not heard from the winner yet. We don’t know whether or not they’re aware they’ve won this incredible prize. So we’re telling all of our players - check your tickets.”

“Millions of people across the country had tickets for the draw. We’re thrilled that an Illinois Lottery player won this prize, and that one of our local retailers sold the winning ticket - meaning they get a cash bonus of $500,000.”

There were 14,391,739 other prizes won on a historic night, including six payouts of $2 million to players who matched five numbers and added the Megaplier to their tickets. Three of these $2 million prizes went to Florida, while the others went to Arkansas, Iowa and Pennsylvania. Another 20 players in the Match 5 tier, who did not add the Megaplier, won $1 million each.

There have now been five Mega Millions jackpots won since the start of 2022. A player from California landed $426 million on January 28, before big wins in New York, Minnesota and Tennessee.

Draws continue every Tuesday and Friday night, and you can check your tickets afterwards to find out if you have won. It could just be that you win the next jackpot.

Published: Monday, August 1, 2022