News writer, Interviewer
Father's Day is this weekend. So are some of the biggest jackpots of the year. If you're still deciding what to get Dad, the lottery might make the decision for you.
Dads say lottery tickets beat another tie
A new survey commissioned by the Illinois Lottery asked 500 fathers what they actually want on Father's Day. The answer wasn't a tie. It wasn't a mug, either.
The numbers tell a clear story. 84% of dads feel Father's Day gets less attention than Mother's Day. Only 41% got a gift from family last year. And 83% said they'd love a lottery ticket, but just 23% have ever received one. That's a big gap between what dads want and what they're getting.
Dads aren't asking for much, either. 60% said $25 to $50 is the right amount to spend. That's the price of a few instant tickets, available at nearly 7,000 retailers across Illinois, with games ranging from $1 to $50. No long lines, no guesswork, no return trip to the store if it's the wrong size.
The takeaway: skip the socks. A ticket costs less, takes less effort, and might actually deliver what dads are asking for: a little excitement and a shot at something big. Some dads even joked they'd settle for a meal out, or one day with full control of the remote. A lottery ticket might be the easier win.
This weekend's jackpot lineup
Father's Day gifts aside, the jackpots themselves are reason enough to pay attention this weekend. Several major games are sitting on prizes large enough to change a family's plans entirely.
The next Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at $452 million, with a cash option of $201 million. Drawing night is Friday, June 19, at 11 p.m. ET. That puts it among the largest prizes on offer anywhere in the country this week.
Powerball's jackpot sits at $302 million, with a cash value of $135.3 million. The next drawing is Saturday, June 20. Two national games, two nine-figure jackpots, one weekend.
Smaller jackpots, same Father's Day thrill
A few other games round out the weekend, and the prizes still carry plenty of weight:
- Lotto America: Estimated jackpot of $30.23 million, cash value $13.54 million. Drawing Saturday, June 20.
- SuperLotto Plus (California Lottery): Estimated jackpot of $30 million, cash value $13.4 million. Drawing Saturday, June 20.
- Hoosier Lotto Plus: Estimated jackpot of $25.6 million, with overall odds of 1 in 6. Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday around 11 p.m. ET.
Big jackpot or small, the appeal is the same: a few dollars, a little hope, and a story to tell at the next family dinner. This Father's Day, that might be the gift Dad actually wants, and with two jackpots topping $300 million, this weekend is a good one to play along with him.
