Lottery players warned historic $1.05billion Mega Millions jackpot is not up for grabs in 5 states – or the Powerball
THE massive Mega Millions jackpot up for grabs on Tuesday has soared to an incredible $1.05 billion, the fourth-largest prize in the game’s history.
The prize money has been growing since April and continued to rise Friday after no winning ticket was drawn, the lottery said.
If a lucky winner matches all six numbers and takes home the jackpot Tuesday, they will have two options on how to accept the money.
They might choose to accept it in annual payments over 29 years or accept a cash payment of $527,900,000.
The drawing comes months after California resident Edwin Castro was declared the winner of the historic $2.04billion Powerball jackpot earlier this year.
Castro ultimately decided to take home a lump sum cash payment of $997.6 million.
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While the big payout is exciting for many, not all lottery hopefuls have easy access to the tickets – and potential prize– across the country.
In fact, residents in five states are forced to travel across state lines to participate in state-wide or national lottery games, like Mega Millions or the Powerball.
Currently, 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands all offer Powerball lottery tickets. All except Puerto Rico also offer Mega Millions games.
The remaining five – Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah – have not opted in on the programs, sometimes shutting down proposals to participate.
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ALABAMA
Lotteries have long been prohibited in Alabama due to its state constitution.
It reads, “The legislature shall have no power to authorize lotteries or gift enterprises for any purposes, and shall pass laws to prohibit the sale in this state of lottery or gift enterprise tickets, or tickets in any scheme in the nature of a lottery; and all acts, or parts of acts heretofore passed by the legislature of this state, authorizing a lottery or lotteries, and all acts amendatory thereof, or supplemental thereto, are hereby avoided.”
For decades, state leaders have sought to amend the constitution, introducing proposals and bills to allow for gambling.
In 1999, Alabama voters shut down a lottery referendum largely in part due to the influence of church opposition, according to The Associated Press.
As surrounding states continue to profit off Alabama lottery hopefuls, the state could be closer to seeing a change.
“I’m pretty sure the people of Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia appreciate all of our contributions to their roads, bridges, education system, and many other things they spend that money on,” Democratic legislator Chris England, told the outlet.
ALASKA
While Alaskan residents are unable to participate in the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries, they are not banned from gambling completely.
The state has long allowed for charitable gaming to take place under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, according to The Hill.
Specifically, this allows for tribal casinos to offer games such as bingo, raffles, race classics, salmon classics, fish derbies, skill contents, and more.
Nonprofits and municipalities are able to apply to host these games as long as the revenue supports a charity.
In 2020, Gov. Mike Dulvaney did introduce the “Alaska Lottery Corporation Act,” which would establish a statewide lottery.
“Alaska is one of only five states that does not have any form of a state lottery,” he said at the time.
“I believe it is time we, as a state, have the conversation on the potential benefits that could come from a state lottery.”
However, the bill expired after the legislative session was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
HAWAII
Without any neighboring states for residents to buy tickets at, Hawaii has long prohibited gambling.
However, that’s not for a lack of trying.
Measures to establish a local state lottery have periodically been introduced in the state legislature, only to fail each time, per The Associated Press.
The outlet reported that many opponents of the measures claim that gambling would harm the state’s low-income communities and support gambling addictions.
Additionally, others purport that the lack of gambling and casinos in Hawaii helps maintain the state as “family-friendly.”
NEVADA
Similarly to Alabama, Nevada’s State Constitution prohibits the sale of statewide and multi-state lottery tickets.
The ban might come as a surprise since the state is so friendly to the casino industry.
However, it is that very industry that opposes lottery ticket sales, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
The outlet has reported that many believe the gaming industry is against the lottery due to the competition it would pose for casinos.
Several members of the state legislature sought to amend the state law earlier this year, introducing a joint resolution.
However, the state lawmakers have a long road ahead of them, according to Casino.org.
If the resolution passes in the state Senate, it would not immediately go to the governor’s desk – but instead back to the assembly in two years for consideration.
During the 2025 legislative session, the bill would need to be passed again by the assembly and state Senate.
Then, in 2026, residents could then cast their vote on amending the state constitution to permit the lottery.
UTAH
State-wide and multi-state lottery games have long been off-limits in Utah as the state’s constitution also bans “games of chance.”
“The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose,” the constitution reads.
Not only does the state’s legislature disapprove of the games, a large portion of its population does as well due to their religious backgrounds.
Utah is home to the largest concentration of members of the Church of Latter-day Saints, making up more than 60% of the state’s population.
The church has a history of opposing gambling and recommends that its members “join with others in opposing the legalization and government sponsorship of any form of gambling.”
Despite the restrictions, lottery hopefuls in the five states haven’t stopped looking for ways to grab a big win.
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Earlier this year, several Las Vegas residents were spotted around a gas station in White Hills, Arizona – just miles from the Nevada border – buying lottery tickets.
Multiple hopefuls said that they wished their state had a lottery to join, however, they didn’t mind the drive to Arizona to pick up their tickets, per KLAS.