Here's an example of a large jackpot won by an east coast resident, as many are. It is probably close to 25%/75% California versus other states in the Mega Winner competition. I don't think I've won more than 5 bucks playing the Mega Millions game, though I recently won $594.00 in the Fantasy 5 game, which is strictly a California operation. Hopefully, this New York winner will be smart, and not have his or her face on national television.

By Todd Northrop

The USA's two biggest multi-state lottery games produced jackpot winners this weekend.

Mega Millions was the first to turn out a grand prize winner.  Friday night, one lucky player from New York matched the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball number to win it all.

The jackpot was worth $54 million, or $36.7 Million if awarded as one lump-sum cash payment.  Both amounts are before taxes are withheld.

The winning numbers for the Sept. 17 Mega Millions drawing were 3, 4, 14, 18, and 27, with Mega number 13.

The Megaplier number was 3.  Players who spent an extra $1 per ticket to purchase their Mega Millions tickets with the Megaplier option would have their non-jackpot prizes multiplied by 3 times.

The Megaplier is available in all but nine of the states selling Mega Millions.  The states that do not currently offer the Megaplier are California, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Washington.

In addition to the jackpot winner, a sizeable 17 lucky players matched the first 5 Mega Millions numbers, but not the Mega number, for a $250,000 prize: 2 from California, 1 from Georgia, 1 from Illinois, 1 from Maryland, 1 from Michigan, 1 from New Jersey, 8 from New York, 1 from Pennsylvania, and 1 from Virginia.

Powerball produces even bigger winner

The following evening, one Powerball lottery player from Georgia matched the first five numbers plus the Powerball number to win a massive $112 million jackpot.  If taken as a lump-sum cash payout, the amount is $61.3 Million, before taxes.

The winning Powerball numbers were 1, 18, 37, 39, and 44, with Powerball number 13.  The Power Play multiplier was 4.

The Power Play, a $1 optional purchase on top of the regular $1 Powerball ticket price, multiplies all non-jackpot prizes by up to 5 times.  But if a player matches the first five numbers, they automatically get their prize upgraded to $1 million, regardless of the Power Play number selected.

In addition to the big jackpot winner Saturday night, another four players will receive a second-prize payout for matching the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number: 1 from Iowa, 1 from Louisiana, 1 from Missouri, 1 from Texas.  The Texas player purchased the Power Play option, automatically increasing their payout to $1 million.

For the complete rundown of all Powerball and Mega Millions game and drawing information players are encouraged to visit USA Mega (www.usamega.com), the Web site dedicated to the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games.

I just read the story in the NY POST of the MM winner, she THOUGHT she was buying POWERBALL but they gave her MEGA MILLIONS by mistake AND SHE WON. I thought we were afraid someone would play their MM numbers on Powerball by mistake and the MM numbers come out.