Most Mega Millions Money in Connecticut Won Off Hamden Ticket

ROCKY HILL, CT — The record Mega Millions jackpot run that started on July 27 generated nearly $32.9 million in sales for Connecticut and more than $5.7 million in prizes, CT Lottery Officials said Wednesday, about 15 hours after the Tuesday night drawing. Tuesday's drawing made a Connecticut resident $30,000 richer.

The historic $1.537 billion jackpot carried a cash-out value $878 million, CT Lottery officials said. It was won on a single ticket sold in South Carolina.

The winning numbers drawn on Tuesday were 5 - 28 - 62 - 65 - 70 and the Mega Ball was 5. The Megaplier was 3.

In all, 190,964 winning Mega Millions tickets were sold in Connecticut, including one worth $30,000 that 22-year-old Taylor Papa of North Haven purchased at the Side Street Grille in Hamden, where she works as a server. That was the biggest amount won in Connecticut, officials said.

"I bought three Quick Pick tickets about two hours before the drawing," the recent college grad told CT Lottery officials. "When I got home and pulled in the driveway, I sat in my car a few extra minutes to wait for the winning numbers (to post) online."

When Papa compared her numbers to the winning numbers drawn, she discovered a four-number plus the Mega Ball number match. Because she added the Megaplier feature to her ticket, Papa's original $10,000 prize was multiplied by 3, the Megaplier number drawn, for a total prize of $30,000.

"I couldn't sleep at all (Tuesday) night," Papa said. "I was afraid I was going to lose the ticket!"

The unexpected winnings come at the perfect time for Papa.

"I'll be able to pay off some of my college loans," she said, "And save a little bit for something fun."

An estimated $14.7 million was delivered to the Connecticut General Fund, where it is distributed to the various programs and services the fund supports, including health care, education, public safety, and more.

Mega Millions drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m., eastern time. The overall odds of winning a Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.0. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, CT Lottery officials said.

Photo Credit: CT Lottery

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