Mega Millions: Louisiana Lottery Confirm Single Ticket Winner

Friday just before lunch I spoke with a cashier at the Acadiana Food Mart near Lafayette, Louisiana. They told me everybody was coming in for Mega Millions. Just down the road in New Iberia at the Circle K just off Highway 90, another clerk told me ticket sales for the multi-state lottery game had been brisk since there was no winner for the game on Christmas Eve.

In case you have been locked up in a Christmas "food coma" for the past few days the Mega Millions Lottery game has reached some historic heights. The game's estimated jackpot of $1.22 billion was the fifth-highest jackpot the game has ever reached. It was only the seventh Mega Millions jackpot to reach the $1 billion mark as well.

Last night, Friday, December 27th Mega Millions held another drawing. If you didn't see the drawing here is how it unfolded.

It only took a few seconds for the five white balls, the gold Mega Ball and the multiplier to fall into place. And it was at that moment that at least one life in the United States changed dramatically. For the first time since September of this year we can now say, Mega Millions has a jackpot winner.

Sources at the Louisiana Lottery confirmed the report that our sources at Mega Millions relayed about Friday's drawing. A single ticket sold in California matched all the numbers needed to claim the game's top prize of $1.22b.

What Were The Mega Millions Lottery Numbers for Friday's Drawing?

California tickets also earned two Match 5 Million prizes as did a ticket sold in Arizona, Missouri, and Texas. Each of those tickets matched all five of the white ball numbers but did not match the Mega Ball. And while Louisiana-sold tickets didn't take any of the "massive prizes" there are some impressive big wins from Friday's Mega Millions in the state.

If you'd like to check your tickets, here are the numbers we saw:

03   07   37   49   55   Mega Ball 6   Megaplier x3

If looking at those numbers makes you think you're holding a winning ticket then you'll need to verify that ticket by checking at either the Official Louisiana Lottery website or the Official Mega Millions website. Those are the sites of record and not only can you verify your winnings at those sites, but they will also have the information you need to collect your prize winnings.

The Louisiana Lottery has confirmed five big-money wins in the state from Friday's drawing. There were four $10,000 winners and one $30,000 winner. The $10,000 winners were sold in Pearl River, Metairie, New Orleans, and Marrero. The $30,000 winner was sold at a RaceTrac Store on Old Hammond Highway in Baton Rouge.

All in all, it was a pretty lucrative night for Louisiana Lottery players. There were eleven tickets that earned prizes of $1,500 and about one hundred or so more tickets that earned a prize of at least $200 in Friday night's drawing.

After the jackpot win the Mega Million jackpot will return to its starting balance of $20 million. The game's next drawing will be on New Year's Eve at 10 pm Louisiana time. Now the the attention of the lottery world will switch back to Powerball for a few weeks.

How Much is the Powerball Jackpot Tonight?

Tonight's Powerball multi-state lottery jackpot will be $145 million. That's the estimation for the annuity. The lump sum payout is estimated to be $65 million. And, if you're going to play Powerball tonight, spend the extra buck for the Power Play. You could get a multiplier of x10. That multiplier is only available when the estimated jackpot is less than $150 million.

The Louisiana Lottery will also resume drawings in Lotto and Easy 5 tonight. Those games took a break on Christmas night but there will be drawings for jackpots of $900,000 and $100,000 respectively in addition to the Powerball drawing.

Please remember that lottery games do involve a significant risk of losing money. If you have a gambling problem help is available free of charge. Simply dial 1-877-770- STOP (7867). The call and the referrals to counselling are at no cost to you. Good Luck.