RELEASE DATE: 11/12/2013
Winner claims $1,000,001, narrowly misses $87 million in Mega Millions® game
(AUSTIN) – Today’s date is one that Sandra Castro of Fort Stockton is likely to remember. Castro and her family traveled to Texas Lottery® headquarters in Austin today to claim a $1,000,001 prize on a ticket she purchased for the Nov. 1 Mega Millions® drawing.
Castro’s Quick Pick ticket held three lines of Mega Millions numbers – one did not match any numbers drawn, the second line matched all five numbers (32 – 35 – 49 – 62 – 67) but not the Mega Ball (1), and the third line matched the Mega Ball (1) but not the other five numbers drawn. This means that the ticket was worth the $1 million second-tier prize plus the $1 Mega Ball prize, but it also means that the ticket was a single line away from the $87 million jackpot prize.
“We like watching the TLC shows about lottery winners, and my husband will always ask me, ‘Can you imagine?’ I tell him, ‘That’s all I can do – imagine!’ said Castro.
Castro’s husband says he always had a good feeling about his wife’s Mega Millions purchases. “I always told her, ‘If anybody’s going to win, it should be you.”
Her son echoed that sentiment saying it was his mother’s “big heart” that helped her win.
Castro, on the other hand, says the secret to winning is simpler than that. “You cannot win if you don’t play.”
The Stripes No. 27 located at 1000 N. Front in Fort Stockton sold the lucky Mega Millions ticket. Castro says she’s already purchased her tickets for tonight’s drawing, with an estimated annuitized jackpot of $132 million and an estimated cash value of $71.5 million.
The Texas Lottery Commission presented a ceremonial check to Castro and thanked the family for sharing their winning story. To see a video of the check presentation, visit the Texas Lottery YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/TheTexasLottery.
The Texas Lottery is also looking forward to awarding a $3,942,945.76 cash value prize from the estimated $6.25 million Lotto Texas® jackpot for Saturday’s drawing. The Kent Kwik #216, located at 4117 Andrews Highway in Odessa, sold the only ticket to match all six numbers drawn – 7, 15, 26, 31, 51 and 54. The store is eligible for a $62,500 retailer bonus.
About the Texas Lottery
Beginning with the first ticket sold in 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated $21 billion in revenue for the state and distributed $41 billion in prizes to lottery players. Since 1997, the Texas Lottery has contributed $15 billion to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas. As authorized by the Texas Legislature, certain Texas Lottery revenues benefit state programs including the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance.
The Texas Lottery provides several entertaining games for lottery players including Powerball®, Mega Millions®, Lotto Texas®, All or Nothing™, Texas Two Step®, Pick 3™, Daily 4™, Cash Five® and scratch-offs. For more information visit us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or at www.txlottery.org.
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