Someone Who Is Not You Hit $1.22B Mega Millions Jackpot
For those of us traveling for the holidays, grabbing a quick pick in the Mega Millions jackpot in Texas, Florida or West Virginia is no big deal. But if you were stuck in Las Vegas and wanting to try your luck, you had to make the trek to California. Well the good news is someone who bought a ticket did win. The bad news? It wasn’t you.
Yes, once again the tickets you’ve purchased for $2 at a time didn’t result in fame and fortune. Maybe the gaming industry is right. Maybe we shouldn’t have a state lottery. Maybe it is bad. Perhaps we stick to 6:5 blackjack and triple zero roulette.
Who Won The $1.22B Mega Millions Jackpot?
While it isn’t you that became an instant billionaire (although more likely half a billionaire after lump sum payment) someone towards Northern California did. The winning ticket of 3 – 7 – 37 – 49 – 55 and the gold Mega Ball of 6 was sold in Cottonwood, California, between Redding and Sacramento.
Notice how the Mega Millions jackpot winner is never in Primm? Ever? It’s almost like they sell us the dud tickets on purpose.
There is no word on who the lucky winner is. If they are doing the responsible thing, they are getting together a lawyer, accountant and others to make sure they protect their winnings. Unfortunately California won’t allow the winner to be anonymous. So their long lost third cousins will be calling about 14 milliseconds after they collect their winnings.
Statistically, The Jackpot Is Probably Not Worth Your Drive
Considering the odds of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot are 302,575,350 to 1, the premise that you’d drive all the way to the nearest state line to plunk down money on the multi-state lottery. While other states can make the bet at 17 gas stations within a mile of their house, in Las Vegas it involves a drive.
The average drive from Las Vegas to Primm is 44 miles each way. So, 88 miles, around 3 gallons of gas, plus the cost of $20 in quick picks. Your odds are significantly better going to your nearest roulette wheel and putting your $33 on red. It won’t make you rich, but it’ll save you a ton of time.
