Would you skip a lottery drawing because of the date? Mega Millions and Friday the 13th have a history that might surprise you: seven jackpots have been won on the day so often associated with bad luck.
The biggest reached more than a billion dollars. And one state has appeared among the winners four times.
A $1.348 Billion Friday the 13th Jackpot in Maine
On January 13, 2023, a single ticket purchased in Lebanon, Maine, matched all six numbers to win a $1.348 billion jackpot.
It was Maine’s first Mega Millions jackpot and remains the third-largest prize in the game’s history. For a date with such an unlucky reputation, that is quite a debut.
The headline amount represented the annuity value. The jackpot’s cash option was $723.5 million before taxes.
Mega Millions and Friday the 13th: Michigan’s Four Wins
Michigan has won or shared four Friday the 13th jackpots, more than any other state. Those wins span nearly a decade.
The first came on June 13, 2008, with a $57 million jackpot. Another followed on May 13, 2011, worth $27 million, before a $66 million win on June 13, 2014.
On October 13, 2017, Michigan appeared among the winners again. This time, a $42 million jackpot was split between two winning tickets, one in Michigan and one in Rhode Island. Each was worth $21 million.
New York and Ohio Have Their Own Stories
On March 13, 2009, New York’s Isabel Zelaya won a $26 million jackpot, adding another chapter to the date’s unexpected lottery history.
Ohio followed on November 13, 2015, when a $202 million jackpot was won by the Lucky Duck Passive Trust. Even the winner’s trust name seems to fit the occasion.
Does Friday the 13th Affect Your Mega Millions Odds?
These wins make for a fun conversation, but the calendar doesn’t change your chances. Each valid combination has the same probability of winning in a given drawing.
Past jackpots also don’t make another Friday the 13th win more likely. Picking 13, avoiding it, or using Quick Pick is a matter of preference.
When you choose your Mega Millions numbers in TuLotero, would 13 make your list, or would you leave it off?
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