“Texas Lottery Winners and Losers: Who Hit the Jackpot in the Latest Drawing?”

The Texas Lottery has a relatively short but eventful history. It was authorized in 1991 after voters approved an amendment to the state’s constitution allowing a government-operated lottery. The Texas Lottery sold its first ticket in 1992.

In its early years, the Texas Lottery offered scratch-off instant games and lotto drawings. Its product lineup expanded over the years to include games like Cash Five, Texas Two Step, Mega Millions, and Powerball. While the lottery has grown, it has also weathered controversies over unclaimed prizes and statistically unlikely jackpot streaks.

The Texas Lottery is run by the Texas Lottery Commission, which oversees lottery games, draws, and funds allocation. By law, a minimum of $2.2 billion in lottery proceeds must go to the Foundation School Fund each biennium. The Texas Lottery has contributed over $29 billion to public education in Texas since 1997.

Games Offered

Texas participates in several major national lottery games as well as state-specific games. The major multi-state games available in Texas are:

• Powerball – This is one of the biggest national lottery games. It is played in 45 states as well as Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball drawings are held twice a week. Players select 5 numbers between 1-69 and 1 Powerball number between 1-26. The minimum jackpot starts at $40 million and continues growing until there is a winner. Some record Powerball jackpots have exceeded $1 billion.

• Mega Millions – This is the other huge national jackpot game along with Powerball. Mega Millions is played in 45 states plus DC and the Virgin Islands. Drawings are held twice per week. Players pick 5 numbers between 1-70 and 1 Mega Ball number between 1-25. Jackpots start at $40 million and can quickly grow into the hundreds of millions.

• Lotto Texas – This is the main in-state jackpot game exclusively for Texas. It has been played since 1992. Lotto Texas drawings happen twice per week. Players choose 6 numbers out of 54. The starting jackpot is $5 million and rollovers can make it substantially larger.

There are also a variety of scratch-off instant games available only in Texas with prizes ranging from small amounts up to millions of dollars.

Where Proceeds Go

The Texas Lottery provides significant revenue to the state that benefits key programs and services. By law, a minimum of $2.2 billion in revenue generated from lottery ticket sales must be transferred to the Foundation School Fund each year. This funding represents a considerable portion of the total budget for public education in Texas.

The Texas Lottery has contributed over $29 billion to public education since 1997. This money helps fund instructional materials, school facilities, teacher salaries, and more. Without the Texas Lottery transferring these funds, the state would need to make up the difference through increased taxes or reduced services.

Beyond education, a percentage of lottery proceeds also supports Texas Veterans. Since 2009, more than $170 million has gone to Veteran’s Assistance programs in the state. This funding provides long-term care, mental health services, employment assistance, and other resources for Texas Veterans and their families.

A few other state programs receiving smaller allocations from lottery revenue include funds for hospital trauma centers, juvenile justice facilities, and state recreational facilities.

While no form of gambling is without controversy, the Texas Lottery generates billions each year for vital services that would otherwise require alternative funding sources. Lottery ticket sales make a significant positive impact on education, Veterans, healthcare, and recreation in Texas.

Notable Jackpots

Texas is home to some of the largest lottery jackpots ever won in the United States. Here are a few of the biggest:

• $157 million – The largest single-ticket Mega Millions jackpot won in Texas was $157 million on September 4, 2020. The ticket was purchased at a Kroger store in Houston.

• $145 million – A Powerball jackpot worth $145 million was claimed on June 19, 2004 by a couple from El Paso. At the time it was the second largest Powerball prize in Texas.

• $128 million – A resident of Katy won half of a $256 million Mega Millions jackpot on December 17, 2010, taking home $128 million. The other half was won by a winner in Idaho.

• $122 million – An Arlington resident scored a $122 million Mega Millions prize on October 19, 2005 which was the largest Mega Millions jackpot in the state at the time.

• $110 million – A Powerball jackpot of $110 million was won by a Houston couple on September 16, 2009. They took the cash option of $47 million before taxes.

• $93 million – A 53-year old man from Dallas claimed a $93 million Mega Millions prize from the drawing on August 28, 2020. At the time, it was the second largest Mega Millions prize in Texas.

The Texas Lottery has created hundreds of millionaires over the years. With jackpots continuing to grow to astronomical levels, it seems only a matter of time before the Lone Star State produces its first billion dollar lottery winner.

Winning Odds

The odds of winning the jackpot prize in Mega Millions and Powerball, the two national lottery games offered in Texas, are incredibly small. For Mega Millions, the odds are 1 in 302,575,350. For Powerball, the odds are 1 in 292,201,338.

The odds are much better for winning smaller prizes in these games.

In the Lotto Texas game, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 25,827,165. The overall odds of winning any prize in Lotto Texas are 1 in 32. For the Texas Two Step game, the jackpot odds are 1 in 1,032,000 and the overall odds of winning are 1 in 33.72.

The scratch-off instant games have varying odds depending on the specific game. For example, the $1 Million Payout scratch-off game has overall odds of 1 in 3.49 of winning any prize. The odds of winning the $1 million top prize are 1 in 1,908,000. Scratch-offs with higher price points often have better odds. The Limited Edition Millions scratch-off costs $50 per ticket but has overall odds of 1 in 2.91 and top prize odds of 1 in 432,000.

So in summary, the odds of winning the biggest prizes are astronomical, but players have reasonable chances at smaller prizes, especially on scratch-offs. Checking the stated odds before playing can help set expectations.

How to Play the Texas Lottery

Playing the lottery in Texas is straightforward. Here are the steps:

Buying Tickets

You can buy Texas lottery tickets at over 16,000 Texas Lottery retailers across the state. Look for licensed retailers that display the Texas Lottery logo.

The two main Texas Lottery games are Lotto Texas and Mega Millions. For Lotto Texas, you pick 6 numbers from 1 to 54. Each play costs $1. For Mega Millions, you pick 5 numbers from 1 to 70 plus 1 Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. Each play costs $2.You can buy tickets for individual draws or multi-draw tickets for advance plays.

Tickets can only be purchased from licensed Texas retailers. Lottery tickets cannot be purchased online or from other states. You must be at least 18 years old to play.

Checking Numbers

There are a few ways to check the winning numbers:

• Watch the drawings on TV stations across Texas. Drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

• Check the winning numbers online at txlottery.org.

• Scan your ticket barcode using the Texas Lottery App. This will instantly verify if you have a winning ticket.

• Take your ticket to a retailer. Retailers can scan your ticket to check for wins up to $599.

• Call the Texas Lottery Winning Numbers hotline.

Claiming Prizes

For prizes up to $599, you can redeem your winning ticket at any Texas Lottery retailer. Retailers can pay cash for these smaller prize amounts.

For larger prizes, you’ll need to claim your prize at one of the Texas Lottery claim centers around the state. You’ll need to complete a claim form and provide a valid ID and your Social Security number.

Prizes over $599 can only be redeemed at claim centers. They cannot be redeemed at retailers. All prizes over $5 million must be claimed in person at the Texas Lottery Commission headquarters in Austin.

Winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize. Unclaimed prizes go back into the prize pool for future games.

Playing the Texas lottery is easy. Just remember to buy your tickets from licensed retailers, check your numbers promptly, and claim your prizes within 180 days. With a little luck, you could become Texas’s next big lottery winner!

Unclaimed Prizes

The Texas Lottery has seen a significant amount of unclaimed prize money over the years. This occurs when winning lottery tickets are not redeemed within 180 days. The unclaimed prizes then revert back to the state for programs authorized by Texas legislators.

Since the Texas Lottery began in 1992, over $235 million in prize money has gone unclaimed. The biggest unclaimed prize was a $16.25 million jackpot from April 2013 that expired in October 2013 without anyone coming forward. Other notably large unclaimed prizes include:

• $4 million Powerball prize in 2002
• $3 million Lotto Texas jackpot in 2010
• $2 million Mega Millions prize in 2012
• $1 million Lotto Texas prize in 2015

Several factors lead to prizes going unclaimed. Tickets get lost, damaged, or simply forgotten about over time. Winners may not even realize they have a winning ticket if they don’t check carefully. A lack of urgency also comes into play, as players may put off claiming smaller prizes.

While unfortunate for the winners, unclaimed prizes benefit Texas schools since the money supports the state education fund. So there is a silver lining when prizes expire before being redeemed. It provides extra funding that likely would not occur otherwise.

Scandals

The Texas lottery has had its share of controversies over the years. Some of the more notable scandals include:

• An investigation found no evidence of tampering but the controversy fueled distrust.

• In 2006, there was a scandal involving lottery retailers fraudulently claiming prizes. Over a dozen store owners and clerks were found to be claiming tickets bought by customers after checking whether they were winners. This led to a loss of public trust.

While these scandals have created controversy, the Texas lottery has worked to increase oversight and rebuild public confidence in the integrity of its games. However, some critics still argue that the lottery does not fully deliver on its promises to education.

Tax Implications

The Texas Lottery is run by the state government, which means winnings are subject to both federal and state taxes. For Texas residents, lottery winnings are considered ordinary income, so they are taxed at your normal income tax rate. This can range from 10-37% depending on your total taxable income for the year.

The federal government also taxes lottery winnings, with rates from 10-37% as well. One important thing to note is that the Texas Lottery automatically withholds 25% of winnings over $5,000 for federal taxes. However, this may not cover your full tax liability, so you’ll need to pay estimated quarterly taxes or potentially face an underpayment penalty.

For large jackpots, the top marginal tax rate of 37% applies to the amount won above $539,900 as of 2020. The first $539,900 is taxed at lower rates. State taxes in Texas may also apply up to a maximum marginal rate of 13.3% as of 2020.

Some strategies can help reduce taxes on lottery winnings. You may want to explore offsetting the winnings with deductible expenses, donating to charity, or investing in tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Working with a tax professional is advisable to minimize your liability.

Keep detailed records of your winnings and taxes paid. You’ll need to report gambling winnings on your annual tax return. Stay organized and understand how lottery taxes work to avoid any surprises or penalties when filing your taxes.

Latest Results

The Texas Lottery offers a variety of games with daily, weekly, and occasional drawings for big jackpots. Here are some of the most recent notable winning numbers and payouts:

• Mega Millions (drawn Tuesdays and Fridays): The January 10, 2023 drawing produced two $1 million winners in Texas who matched all five white ball numbers. The jackpot was $1.1 billion, won by a single ticket in Maine.

• Powerball (drawn Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays): The January 7, 2023 drawing yielded a $2 million winner in Houston who hit all five main numbers. The jackpot was $825 million, split by winners in California and Wisconsin.

• Lotto Texas (drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays): The January 11, 2023 drawing resulted in 52 second-tier prize winners who matched 5 of 6 numbers to win $1,669 each. The estimated jackpot is $17 million for the next drawing.

• Cash Five (daily): The January 12 evening drawing paid out 351 winners of $350 each who matched 3 of 5 numbers. The top prize of $25,000 went to a ticket sold in Dallas that matched all five numbers.

• Texas Two Step (Mondays and Thursdays): The January 12, 2023 drawing produced 4 winners of $1,750 for matching 4 of 4 numbers. The jackpot of $200,000 rolled over to the next drawing.

• Daily 4 (twice daily): The midday drawing on January 12 resulted in 1,168 winners of $250 each who matched 3 of 4 numbers, with the top prize of $5,000 split among tickets sold in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.

The Texas Lottery posts updated results for all its games following each drawing at txlottery.org for players to check their tickets. Some of the biggest jackpots can climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars before a lucky winner hits the right combination.