A single ticket sold in Holyoke, Massachusetts matched all six numbers in the Monday, September 7, 2026 Megabucks drawing to win a $29.71 million jackpot, marking the largest prize in the game’s 44-year history. Massachusetts Lottery officials confirmed that the winning quick-pick selection matched the numbers 21, 28, 31, 34, 40, and 44 to claim the top prize without needing to split the payout with any other ticket holder.
Where was the winning Massachusetts Megabucks ticket sold?
The Massachusetts State Lottery announced that the winning ticket was purchased at King Mart, located at 494 Westfield Road in Holyoke. The convenience store is eligible for a retailer bonus for selling the top-prize ticket.
This store has a track record of high-tier lottery sales. In 2025, the same King Mart location sold an instant scratch-off ticket that yielded a $15 million grand prize. The store’s latest sale ends a jackpot drought for the Megabucks game that lasted nearly 17 months, following the previous jackpot hit in April 2025.
How does the $29.71 million jackpot rank in Massachusetts Lottery history?
The $29.71 million prize surpasses the previous Megabucks record of $21.71 million set in 1985. During that 1985 drawing, eight individual ticket holders matched the winning numbers and split the total prize pool. In contrast, the September 2026 drawing produced a single ticket winner who claims the entire $29.71 million sum.
The prize pool had been accumulating since mid-2025. It surpassed its previous peak mark of $21.71 million in early July 2026 before rolling over for an additional two months. State lottery drawing records show how this jackpot milestone compares to earlier game benchmarks:
| Event / Feature | 1985 Record Draw | September 2026 Record Draw |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot Amount | $21.71 million | $29.71 million |
| Winning Tickets | 8 (Split jackpot) | 1 (Single winner) |
| Payout per Ticket (Pre-tax) | ~$2.71 million | $29.71 million (Annuity) / $19.6 million (Cash) |
| Winning Method | Manual & Quick Pick mix | Quic Pic automated selection |
While state lotteries frequently feature massive multi-state drawings—such as an Illinois Powerball ticket winning $1 billion—in-state games like Megabucks offer dedicated prize pools restricted entirely to regional ticket buyers.
What are the payout options for the Megabucks winner?
The ticket holder has exactly one calendar year from the draw date—until September 7, 2027—to present the winning ticket at Massachusetts Lottery headquarters. The winner must choose between two payment structures:
- Annuity Option: The full $29.71 million figure paid out in annual installments over a 30-year period.
- Lump-Sum Cash Option: A one-time payment of approximately $19.6 million before mandatory state and federal tax withholdings.
Under Massachusetts tax rules, lottery winnings above $600 are subject to a 5% state tax withholding alongside federal tax withholdings of 24% applied automatically upon validation.
How has the Megabucks game evolved since 1982?
The Massachusetts State Lottery launched Megabucks in November 1982 as one of the country’s earliest state-level lotto games. The product format has undergone multiple structural changes across four decades to keep pace with ticket demand.
In 2023, lottery administrators overhauled the game mechanics. They added a third weekly drawing on Monday evenings to join the traditional Wednesday and Saturday night draws. They also adjusted the matrix to require players to pick six numbers from a pool of 1 to 44, while boosting the minimum starting jackpot to $500,000.
Similar structural updates have taken place in other state lotteries, including state drawings like the Maryland Multi-Match jackpot game, which balance local odds with escalating progressive prizes.
How to play Megabucks and check winning numbers
To participate in Megabucks, players select six numbers between 1 and 44 or request a random Quic Pic ticket from a terminal. Matching all six numbers wins or shares the top jackpot prize, while matching three, four, or five numbers awards lower-tier fixed prizes.
Tickets can be purchased directly at licensed retail store locations across Massachusetts. Residents in eligible regions can also enter state games by ordering lottery tickets online via digital courier services that secure physical tickets on behalf of customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the winner have to claim the jackpot in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts Lottery draw-game winners have up to 365 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes. Unclaimed top prizes revert to the state’s net lottery revenues distributed to cities and towns.
Can the Massachusetts Megabucks winner remain anonymous?
Under Massachusetts public records laws, the lottery publicly releases the name, town, and prize amount of winners claiming prizes of $600 or more. Winners cannot claim anonymously unless they execute a legally valid trust or entity claim structure approved under state regulations.
What are the odds of winning the Megabucks jackpot?
The odds of matching all six numbers to win the Megabucks jackpot are 1 in 7,059,052. Secondary tier prizes carry lower odds depending on the number of matching numbers drawn.
Play responsibly. Lottery is a form of entertainment, not investment.
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
