Mega Millions Drawing: Will Friday The 13th Be Lucky For A RI Resident Again?

CRANSTON, RI — No one won the Mega Millions Jackpot on Tuesday, but with a drawing on Friday the 13th, Rhode Island has ironically seen some luck on what the superstitious call the unluckiest day.

Last time a drawing took place on Friday the 13th, a Rhode Islander won Mega Millions. This winning Mega Millions ticket was sold on Oct. 13, 2017, at Martin’s Petroleum in East Providence, and the prize was split with another winner from Michigan.

This Friday’s estimated jackpot of $1.35 billion is the second largest in the game’s history. Last July it reached $1.33 billion, and prior to that, the highest was $1.53 billion in October 2018. If Friday’s jackpot is won, and the winner chooses the cash option, the lump sum payment would be $707.9 million.

But despite there being no big jackpot winner on Tuesday, Rhode Island did still see some luck, state lottery officials said. Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing resulted in a $10,000 winning ticket sold in Rhode Island.

Teodoro Santana, of Providence, usually picks his own numbers but went with a Quick Pick this time. The ticket matched four numbers and the mega ball to win the standard prize payout of $10,000. He did not purchase the Megaplier feature for an additional dollar on the wager. If he had, the $10,000 prize would have been multiplied by three to equal $30,000.

Lottery officials said Santana purchased the winning ticket at America’s Food Basket in Providence and plans to take a vacation with his wife.

Additionally, the $50,000 Powerball ticket sold from the Dec. 21, 2022, drawing has been claimed by a man from Wakefield.

He just checked the ticket over the weekend and saw he won. He bought the ticket at Belmont Marketplace in Wakefield.