California Lottery raises $63M for public schools

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — People with winning tickets aren’t the only ones benefitting from the California Lottery.

According to Thursday’s release, California Lottery has raised an estimated $63 million for public schools. The Mega Millions jackpot reached more than $1.1 billion Tuesday night, and one lucky Southern California resident nabbed a winning ticket.

Another drawing is scheduled for Saturday night’s Powerball jackpot, which is projected to be $935 million.

Winning $1 million Mega Millions ticket sold in Southern California

Sales for this game have already totaled more than $156 million comprised of 78 million tickets sold since January 2, the release said. More than three million people have won a portion of the pot so far, with a total prize value of $22.8 million.

There are a few stores in San Diego considered “lucky stores,” meaning they have sold at least one $100,000 or higher winning ticket, paid out an average of 400 winning tickets each week and paid out an average of $4,000 in winning tickets per week.

A winning lottery ticket that cashed out more than $1 million was sold at a Vons grocery store in Bonita last June, and a winning Powerball ticket worth $3.2 million was sold at a La Mesa 7-Eleven store the month before that.

According to the California Lottery, 95 cents of every dollar spent on a lotto game goes back to public schools, prize payments and store compensation.

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