Each state can set their own tax rates and fees on lottery ticket sales, so the exact amount you owe depends on where you reside in the U.S. If your state has high tax rates, consider purchasing tickets elsewhere to save yourself some cash.
Florida stands out as an impressive state when it comes to Mega Millions players, claiming 10 jackpot prizes in 2023 alone – the highest award being won in August by someone in Florida claiming an enormous $1.602 billion prize!
State lotteries are responsible for selling tickets and collecting funds, but not all states offer Mega Millions as a game. States that do sell it include those which have passed constitutional amendments authorizing their creation, or laws permitting multi-state games like Mega Millions and Powerball sales.
Since Mega Millions started drawing on May 17, 2002, there have been 208 jackpot winners spread among 47 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands – but 17 states still don’t have one! State lotteries provide essential funding for state governments while winnings often go toward multiple winners at once.
Already you’ve likely heard of Mega Millions reaching an amazing $1.55 billion jackpot and may be dreaming about what you would do with all that cash if it came your way. But which states participate and how do I know if my state is one?
Rhode Island may be one of the smallest lottery states by population, yet its Lottery still contributes significantly to the State General Fund each year. As one of four fourth largest lotteries nationwide and an annual contributor of approximately $6 billion dollars to state revenue since 1974, more than one third of that goes directly towards education while remaining funds go to various organizations and projects – some even going towards teachers’ retirement funds!
Arkansas is another notable state with its fair share of Mega Millions winners, with construction worker Eliberto Cantu taking home one half of a $636 million jackpot prize back in 2013, the second-biggest win ever in Mega Millions history at that time.
New York stands out as the state with the highest concentration of Mega Millions winners, having produced 40 jackpot winners since the lottery’s inaugural drawing on May 2002 – Johnnie Taylor received an astonishing $476 Million award as his grand prize! Additionally, New York stands alone as being one of the only lotteries that directs all profits (excluding administrative fees and retail commissions ) toward public schooling initiatives.