Florida

Mega Millions player just misses $250 million jackpot — but still wins big in Florida

People the Upstate play the Powerball and Mega Millions lottery for many different reason; but they all say they want to win. Jayson Wagner, 45, of Chesnee talks about his Mega Millions lottery ticket he purchased in Spartanburg. Wagner was at the store at Hearon Circle in Spartanburg on March 22, 2024.
A Mega Millions player in Florida won a windfall in the lottery game’s latest drawing, results show. USA TODAY NETWORK

A Mega Millions player won a life-changing prize at a Florida liquor store.

Someone in Kissimmee matched five numbers but not the Mega Ball in the drawing Tuesday, Oct. 29, to win $1 million, just missing the estimated $250 million jackpot, according to Mega Millions and the Florida Lottery.

The lucky ticket was sold at a Publix Liquors in Kissimmee, officials said.

The winning numbers were 16, 22, 26, 36, 56 and gold Mega Ball 1, according to the Mega Millions website. The Megaplier option was 4x.

No one snagged the grand prize, pushing the jackpot to an estimated $281 million.

The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday, Nov. 1.

Kissimmee is about a 20-mile drive south from Orlando.

What to know about Mega Millions

To score the jackpot in the Mega Millions, a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball. The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.

Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state. Officials have announced they will cost $5 starting in April.

Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
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