Lottery fever hits Georgia as combined jackpots near $1.3 billion

Summary by The Atlanta Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Richard Elliot, WSB-TV (ABC) - News · July 24, 2026 · 2 min read

Feeling lucky? Lottery players across Georgia are lining up as the combined Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots climb to nearly $1.3 billion. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ] Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $743 million, while Saturday night’...

Why this matters in The Atlanta

As Georgians flock to stores like Heby's Shell Station to buy tickets, the surge in lottery fever is a boon for local businesses, particularly convenience stores and gas stations that sell tickets. These retailers will see an increase in foot traffic and sales, which can have a positive impact on their bottom line. Additionally, if a Georgian were to win one of the massive jackpots, it could have a ripple effect on the local economy, with the winner potentially investing in their community or supporting local charities. The fact that Heby's Shell Station has a reputation for producing big lottery winners is also a draw for players, who are willing to try their luck at a store that seems to have a winning streak. This phenomenon can be seen as a form of community engagement, with people gathering at local stores to share in the excitement and anticipation of the big drawings.

About this story

Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News. The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: safety · Published: July 24, 2026 · Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News · Reading time: 2 min

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This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.

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Summary created by	The Atlanta Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Richard Elliot, WSB-TV (ABC) - News
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 24, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 24, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Lottery fever hits Georgia as combined jackpots near $1.3 billion

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