Texas Lottery Reveals Impressive Mega Millions Win Friday

A frosty Friday in Texas was the perfect backdrop for an extraordinary win in the Mega Millions game.

Illustration for the news article

While parts of north Texas were slipping and sliding on Friday other residents of the state who avoided the icy carnage that was experienced in Dallas, Sherman, Sulphur Springs, and New Boston spent their Friday staying warm and planning for instant wealth in the Mega Millions Lottery game.MegaMillions via YouTubeOkay, they probably weren't laser-focused on Mega Millions but with a chance to win $77 million, the thought may have entered the minds of a few folks who stopped in at a gas station to fill up or picked up a ticket while grocery shopping.It doesn't matter what your motivation may have been for playing Mega Millions with the Texas Lottery last night but we can confirm this. The "hunch" to buy a ticket for Friday's drawing paid off 31,750 times on Friday night.4 Click on Detroit Local 4 WDIV via YouTubeHere's how the Mega Millions drawing unfolded from an icy Atlanta and the offices of the Georgia Lottery on Friday night.  In case you weren't aware, Mega Millions is drawn in Georgia and Powerball is drawn in Florida but both games are featured across multiple states and territories, including the great state of Texas and the Texas Lottery.Our source at Mega Millions confirmed that no ticket sold for Friday, January 10, 2025, matched the numbers needed to claim the game's top prize of an estimated $77 million. So, when they draw again on Tuesday night the estimated top prize will be $95 million.Meanwhile, my inside source at the Texas Lottery confirmed that a Texas-sold ticket was one of three tickets that earned the largest prize won in last night's drawing. The ticket matched four of the five white ball numbers and the ticket's purchaser also correctly matched the Mega Ball.By rule the ticket is worth $10,000 but the smart Texan who bought the lucky ticket also plunked down an extra dollar for the Megaplier. That one-dollar investment was worth another $20,000 in winnings. The total value of that ticket this morning is $30,000. Only two other tickets sold across the Mega Millions footprint earned a prize that large.Mega Millions TicketScott Olson, Getty Imagesloading...Here are the numbers that we saw rolling out of the hopper on Friday night.09  23  39   65   66   Mega Ball 22   Megaplier x2You know you get paid just for matching the Mega Ball right? Okay, it's $2 bucks but at least you break even and if you had the Megaplier you'd get $6 for just matching the Mega Ball. There are a lot of winning combinations in Mega Millions check them out here. megamillions46 via YouTubemegamillions46 via YouTubeloading...And if your investigation reveals you're a winner please verify that ticket at the Official Texas Lottery site or the Official Mega Millions site. Those sites, especially the Texas Lottery site, can really help you with confirmation of winnings and prize redemption. And just so you know, when it comes to the winning numbers it's not what we say, it's what they (the official sites) say.Powerball Reaches $1.2B, Third Largest Jackpot EverGetty Imagesloading...Tonight the focus will shift to two big-money games in Texas. There is the multi-state Powerball game that is offering a top prize of $263 million. The Powerball game last got a winner on December 7th of last year. So, the game's jackpot has been steadily growing since then.That drawing will happen tonight at 10 pm Texas time. Please note that by rule Powerball ticket sales must cease at least one hour before the drawing, so if you think you're playing Powerball tonight you'll need to act before 9.Texas Lottery via YouTubeTexas Lottery via YouTubeloading...Lotto Texas with Extra! will also draw tonight. That game from the Texas Lottery features a top prize of $66 million, that's the estimated amount. We have been able to tell you about a Lotto Texas winner since June of last year when an Austin, Texas ticket won the game's top prize.As someone who studies and tracks lotteries from around the world, I am kind of surprised Lotto Texas hasn't had a jackpot winner already. Granted the record jackpot for the game did reach $145 million once the math suggests that $66 million is on the "high side" for a game that features the matching scheme that Lotto Texas with Extra! does.  By the way, if you can afford it, spend the $1 on "the Extra".Texas Lottery via YouTubeTexas Lottery via YouTubeloading...Knowing what you can afford and what you can't afford is what makes playing Texas Lottery games fun. If you can't afford to lose the money you play with then, please keep that money for your necessities. If you do have a dollar or two you can afford to play with, then by all means let's play.It's when the desire to win overtakes common sense that we see problems develop. If you feel gambling has too much control in your life get help. 1-800-GAMBLER is a toll-free telephone number that you can call any time of the day or night. The trained staff will help you and guide you toward a resolution of your gambling concerns. Help is available and it's available at no cost to you. Good Luck.