Texas Lottery Reveals Huge Mega Millions Win on Friday Night

When you think about it, a lot of Texas has been built on luck. The first folks that struck oil in the Permian Basin or just off the Texas Coast might have had an idea of what they were looking for but they were lucky to find just the right spot.

Of course, that luck was followed by a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. Playing and winning a lottery game from the Texas Lottery does require some luck, and you might break a sweat walking from the car to the store and back, but at least you won't have to bleed.

On Friday night Texas lottery players had the chance to earn life-changing money with the help of Lady Luck via the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game. The jackpot prize for a ticket that matched all five of the white ball numbers and the Mega Ball was estimated to be a very tidy $150,000,000.

Here is how the drawing played out just before 10 pm on Friday.

Our sources at Mega Millions did confirm that no ticket sold across the game's 45-state footprint matched the numbers needed for the $150 million annuitized prize or the $71 million lump sum payout.

That means if you choose to play Mega Millions on Tuesday the game's top prize will rise to an estimated $169 million for the annuity or $80 million for the cash prize. There were also no Match 5 Million winners reported to us either for Friday's drawing.

That means the top prize awarded in Friday's Mega Millions game was $30,000. The Texas Lottery has confirmed a $30,000 winner in the state. There were also three other tickets sold in Texas that earned a prize of $10,000.

All four of the tickets matched the same prize scenario, namely, four white balls and the Mega Ball. The $30,000 winner opted for the Megaplier Option which for Friday's game was "times 3". Hence, the difference in prize money.

The numbers we saw rolling out of the hopper on Friday night were:

03   10   29   52   57   Mega Ball 20   Megaplier x3

You will want to confirm your numbers via the Official Texas Lottery Website or the Official Mega Millions Website. Those sites allow you to check multiple tickets at once and have official information regarding prize redemption.

You guys were aware that the cost of a Mega Millions ticket was going up, right? The cost will jump to $5 in April of next year.  The game's administrators say you and I will like the change despite the higher cost. They promise bigger jackpots, more winners, and no need to purchase a "Megaplier" it will already be included. Here, you can see all the changes, pros and cons, of the price increase.

How Much is the Powerball on Saturday?

The other multi-state lottery game that is available in Texas is Powerball. That game will draw tonight for a top prize of $364 million. It has been since August that Powerball has created a jackpot winner. The cash prize on Saturday's Powerball drawing is estimated to be $175.2 million.

You can watch the drawing online at 9:59 tonight.

Lotto Texas with Extra! Has a Big Jackpot Too

I have to admit I am a "homer" when it comes to this game. I like the odds, I like the ticket price, and I like the number of winners the game produces each week. And to be honest, I am surprised this game has a jackpot prize of $28.25 million for tonight. 

Lotto Texas with Extra! Usually has a jackpot winner about the time the top prize hits $20 million or so. And there always seem to be multiple winners of big money every week. Is it a sure thing? No, far from it. But if I only had a few bucks to spend on a lottery game, I would lean toward this one. In my opinion, I like the game but you do what you need to do with your money.

Speaking of money, there is a better-than-average chance you will not walk away from your lottery purchases with more money than you invested. There is a risk involved. If you feel as though gambling has become too big of an issue in your life, help is available. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. The call is free, the referrals are free, and the assistance is life-changing. Good Luck.