A Massachusetts lottery player has claimed the state’s biggest prize of 2026 so far, collecting $25 million from a $50 scratch card game called “$25,000,000 Mega Money.” The ticket was purchased at Cumberland Farms in Turners Falls, but the winner’s identity remains unknown after claiming through a legal trust.

Trust Claim Keeps Winner Anonymous

The Open Door Trust of Boston, represented by trustee Renat Lumpau, handled the claim on behalf of the winner. Lumpau opted for the lump sum payout of $16.25 million before taxes rather than the full amount paid over time. The Cumberland Farms store at 10 Montague City Road received a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Massachusetts doesn’t typically allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, but there’s a loophole. Winners can set up a trust, have a trustee submit the ticket, and collect the funds on their behalf. Only the trustee’s name becomes public record, not the actual winner’s.

Pretty clever, really.

Mark William Bracken, executive director of the Massachusetts State Lottery, confirmed that more big prize winners are using this approach. The trend toward trust claims has been growing in recent years as winners look for privacy and security.

Strong Start for Massachusetts Lottery in 2026

The $25 million win leads a series of hefty claims this year. The second biggest was $5 million from a “$5,000,000 100X Cashword 2024” ticket sold at a Mobil station in Uxbridge, claimed on January 20.

Recent days have seen more big wins. A $1 million prize was claimed Thursday from a “$2,000,000 50X Cashword 2024” ticket bought at Sids Smoke Shop in Boston. A $250,000 prize came from a “$250,000 Winter Winnings” ticket sold at a Speedway in Spencer. Another winner collected $100,000 from a “$15,000,000 Colossal Millions” ticket purchased at Pine Tree Market in Chelmsford.

The string of high-value claims shows strong player engagement with the state’s scratch card products, particularly at the premium price points. These bigger ticket denominations continue to attract players hunting for serious jackpots.