Players, Retailers, & State All Benefit from Record Run

PHOENIX (March 5, 2019) - The winner of South Carolina’s record $1.5 billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot (largest single winner in history) is claiming their prize, but Arizona won big too as Arizona Lottery players and retailers took home millions in cash and the State of Arizona saw huge returns on the enormous ticket sales generated by this unprecedented top prize.

From July 25 to October 23, 2018, Mega Millions play in Arizona generated almost $49 million in sales, paid $5.675 million in prizes to players (including a $1 million winner!), earned over $3.1 million in commissions to our valued retailers and returned $16.5 million to our beneficiaries.

“This is great news for all of Arizona as we are all winners with the Lottery,” Executive Director Gregg Edgar said. “Monies raised through Lottery ticket sales fund 18 beneficiaries providing important programs focused on education, economic development, environmental conservation and health and human services.”

The South Carolina Education Lottery Commission says the winner of the $1.5 billion Jackpot will remain anonymous and has chosen the cash option of $877,784,124. They say every decision the winner made that day brought him/her to the store, at that very moment, to make the Quick Pick Mega Millions lottery ticket purchase. The winner even allowed a fellow customer to make a Mega Millions lottery ticket purchase ahead of them, while in line at the store, and that simple act of kindness led to this amazing outcome. The retailer will receive $50,000 for selling the claimed winning ticket and South Carolina will collect $61 million in income taxes from the winner.