News writer
March has started strong for one lucky lottery player in Mississippi. The Mississippi Lottery announced one person matched all five numbers from the Friday, March 8, Mississippi Match 5 drawing and won the jackpot worth $77,663. The winning numbers for the draw were 13, 15, 16, 18, and 33.
The lucky player purchased the winning ticket at Robin Food Mart in McComb.
Mississippi Match 5 - how does it work?
Match 5 is a daily draw game in Mississippi. The drawings take place at 9:30 p.m. CT.
To play, you need to select five numbers from 1 to 35. You can also choose the Quick Pick option, where a computer selects the numbers for you. Players can also add the Multiplier for a chance to multiply their winnings.
For the Multiplier, it is a randomly-chosen number between 2 and 5. Any non-jackpot prizes you win are multiplied by this number. The Multiplier costs an additional $1 per play per draw.
The jackpot for Mississippi Match 5 starts at $50,000. If no one matches all five numbers and wins the jackpot, it rolls over into the next prize pool and grows until someone wins.
There are four prize categories for Match 5, with players matching at least two numbers winning a free Quick Pick ticket.
How to claim your prize in Mississippi
If you happen to be the lucky winner of this Match 5 jackpot, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation requires all draw-style game prizes to be claimed within 180 calendar days after the draw date. The Mississippi Lottery Corporation will only accept the original ticket in order to claim any prize.
You can claim prizes under $600 at any Mississippi Lottery Corporation retailer. Prizes between $600 and $99,999 must be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. If you are mailing in your winning ticket, keep in mind that the postmark date on your envelope doesn’t constitute satisfaction of the 180-day requirement, and the risk of mailing tickets remains with the player.
For prizes of $600 or more, a Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification, and the original ticket must be provided. Proper forms of ID must verify name, signature, photo, age, and Social Security number.
If you are mailing in your winning ticket, make sure to sign the back of the ticket also and send the required documentation to the Mississippi Lottery Corporation, P.O. Box 321462, Flowood, MS, 39232. The Mississippi Lottery states they aren’t responsible for lost or misdirected mail.
How the lottery helps Mississippi
In Mississippi, the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law was passed by the Mississippi State Legislature in 2018, which established the Mississippi Lottery Corporation.
The Mississippi Lottery was created to benefit both the infrastructure and education systems in the state. Until June 30, 2028, net proceeds up to $80 million generated by the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law will be added to the State Highway Fund. This fund helps repair, renovate, and maintain highways and bridges in the state of Mississippi.
Any net proceeds over $80 million in a fiscal year generated by the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law will be added to the Education Enhancement Fund. After July 1, 2028, the net proceeds will continue to be deposited into the Lottery Proceeds Fund. They will then be transferred to the State General Fund, except for the amounts over $80 million. This will continue to be deposited into the Education Enhancement Fund.
Enjoy playing the Mississippi Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
