A Mega Millions ticket bought last week in Columbia didn’t win the game’s grand prize, but because it was just one number shy from exactly matching Friday’s drawing it’s owner will receive a $10,000 consolation prize, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said Monday in a news release.
Now a search is underway for the winner.
The five-figure winning ticket was sold at the Lucky Stop convenience store at 743 Hazelwood Road, officials said Monday in a news release. That’s near the intersection with Garners Ferry Road, not far from the junction with Interstate 77.
The winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing were 6, 7, 24, 44, 54 and Megaball: 13.
The winning ticket matched four white ball numbers and the gold Megaball number, lottery officials said.
The odds of matching four white balls and the gold Megaball are 1-in-931,001, according to the release.
The winner has 180 days to claim the prize, according to lottery officials.
The winner will be allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.
“Sign the back of your ticket and put it in a safe location until you’re ready to come forward to claim the prize,” lottery officials said.
For complete information on claiming prizes, go to sceducationlottery.com.
The Lucky Stop will receive a commission for selling the winning ticket, when it is turned into lottery officials.
Overall, there was no grand prize winner last week, the jackpot for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing has risen to $374 million.
Tickets are $2, and could cost more with additional options.
The odds of winning Mega Million’s grand prize are 1-in-302,575,350.
Source Agencies
