Pennsylvania Lottery Fever: Three Scratch-Offs Split $7.5M Jackpot

Three Scratch-Off Tickets Turn Pennsylvania Players into Overnight Millionaires

By Aria Montgomery

Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Lottery confirmed late Monday that three separate scratch-off tickets, all purchased within a 48-hour window, have delivered a combined $7.5 million payday to players across the state.

The Winning Streak

The first of the lucky slips, a $30 “$7.5 Million Mega Fortune” game, was sold at a Sheetz in Erie on Friday afternoon. Less than 24 hours later, a second top-prize ticket from the same game was scanned at a family-owned Sunoco in Lancaster. The trifecta was completed Sunday morning when a third jackpot surfaced in Philadelphia’s Mayfair section.

We’ve seen hot streaks before, but three max prizes in one weekend is unheard of. — Eileen McCafferty, senior lottery analyst for the Pennsylvania Lottery

Odds vs. Reality

Each ticket carries a 1-in-3.2 million chance of hitting the top tier. Statisticians calculate the probability of three such wins clustering inside 72 hours at roughly 1 in 32 trillion, yet Pennsylvania is no stranger to statistical lightning. In 2022, the state paid out a record $5.1 billion in prizes.

What Winners Should Do Next

• Sign the back of the ticket immediately.
• Call the Lottery’s Claims Center at 717-702-8005 to schedule an appointment.
• Bring two forms of ID and the original playslip; photocopies are not accepted.
• Decide—within 60 days—whether to take the annuity or the one-time cash option.

Retailers Reap Rewards Too

Each store that sold a top-tier ticket earns a $50,000 bonus, money that often funds local youth sports or overdue renovations. “We’re already getting calls from customers asking if we’re the lucky store,” laughed Sheetz manager Carla Nguyen, whose Erie location plans to use the windfall to upgrade indoor seating.

Looking Ahead

The Lottery says roughly 20% of the grand-prize tickets for the $7.5 Million Mega Fortune game remain unclaimed statewide, keeping hope alive for weekend warriors who haven’t scratched yet. Meanwhile, officials urge players to “game responsibly,” noting that proceeds still fund programs for older Pennsylvanians—from transit subsidies to prescription assistance.