GEORGIA - Georgia has officially become a powerhouse in the lottery world, fueled by massive Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots. The Georgia Lottery, which funds the state's HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs, has seen ticket sales soar, creating legendary "lucky" retailers across the state.
While every ticket has the same odds, certain high-volume chains and independent stores have cemented their reputations by producing Georgia's most significant wins.
The Reigning Champion: Publix Supermarket
Location: Newnan (Coweta County)
This specific grocery store holds the ultimate bragging rights: the location where the most significant single prize in Georgia Lottery history was sold.
- The Luck Factor: Publix #1816 sold the single winning Quik Pik ticket for an estimated $980 million Mega Millions jackpot in November 2025. This record-breaking win instantly made the Newnan store the most famous lottery retailer in the state.
- Best For: Jackpot hunters seeking tickets from the store with the highest historical single payout in Georgia.
The Consistent Cash Magnets
Beyond the record-breaker, these retailers consistently sell a high volume of tickets, making them statistically the "luckiest" due to sheer turnover.
The Million-Dollar Clubs (High Volume)
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Truck Stops and Travel Centers: Retailers like Pilot Travel Centers, Love's Travel Stops, and Murphy USA locations across Georgia consistently sell multiple $1 million-plus tickets, driven by high traffic from interstates and commuters.
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The Luck Factor: Stores in towns like Tallapoosa, Lagrange, and Griffin frequently appear on lists for selling multiple $1 million prizes, proving truck stops are an excellent bet for multi-state jackpots.
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Independent Food Marts (Multiple Winners): The Georgia Lottery often highlights specific independent stores that have sold two or more $1 million winners in recent years, including:
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Hiram Food & Fuel (Hiram)
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Mobile Exxon (Douglasville)
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Reliance Fuel (Douglasville)
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Chevron Food Mart (Atlanta)
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Best For: Scratch-off players and regional jackpot enthusiasts who follow specific "hot" independent retailers.
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The Grocery Giants (Statewide Volume)
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Publix & Kroger: These major supermarket chains are crucial to Georgia's lottery landscape. Locations in high-density areas like Atlanta (Cheshire Bridge Rd.), Duluth, and Covington are consistent winners due to massive, daily customer traffic.
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The Luck Factor: Buying a ticket while grocery shopping is the most common way to win mid-tier prizes ($1,000 to $1 million) in Georgia.
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Other Noteworthy Payout Zones
- The Mobile App / Diggi Games: The Georgia Lottery sells tickets online and via its mobile app. Many recent winners of prizes between $10,000 and $30,000 were reported to have been sold via the mobile app, making your own phone a source of luck.
- The Midtown Magnet: The Gateway Newsstand inside One Alliance Center in Atlanta sold a ticket that won Ira Curry a share of a $648 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2013, solidifying that Midtown Atlanta office hubs are also significant sources of luck.
If you're hunting for a winner in the Peach State, your best strategy is to frequent either the major interstate travel centers or the specific local food marts that have a proven history of paying out big money.
