Georgia's Big Jackpots Soar to a Combined Half-Billion Dollars

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Thursday, July 19th, 2018

Lottery fever is spreading across Georgia with Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots totaling more than a half-billion dollars. Mega Millions grew overnight to $422 million for Friday’s drawing. Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has reached $110 million.
 
One Georgia Lottery player won $10,000 in last night’s Mega Millions drawing. Racetrac #0495, located at 123 Commerce Drive in Villa Rica, sold the lucky ticket.
 
The Mega Millions jackpot began May 8 and has rolled 21 times since.
 
Mega Millions offers two jackpot payment options: the $422 million annuity prize paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual graduated payments; or the cash option, which is approximately $254 million.
 
Powerball began growing June 23 and has rolled seven times.
 
Powerball offers two jackpot payment options: the $110 million jackpot prize paid over 29 years in 30 graduated payments; or the cash option, which is approximately $67 million.
 
Mega Millions and Powerball tickets are $2 per play and can be purchased at Georgia Lottery retailers statewide. Georgia residents also can purchase tickets via the Georgia Lottery app or online at www.galottery.com.
 
Mega Millions players can multiply prizes with the Megaplier option for an additional $1 per play. Mega Millions also offers an optional $3 wager, Just the Jackpot, that allows players to receive two entries for a chance to win the game’s jackpot prize only.
 
Powerball players can multiply prizes with the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play.
 
As with all other Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Mega Millions and Powerball will benefit education in the state of Georgia.
 
Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $19.5 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.8 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.6 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.