The exciting, high-stakes world of lottery jackpots continues to captivate, as the Mega Millions pot is currently sitting at an estimated gleaming $181 million. Should the sole victor prefer to receive a one-time lump sum, the cash option reads a hefty $84.6 million, as stated on the Mega Millions website.
It hasn’t been long since the Mega Millions yielded to a fortunate participant. On June 4, a player in Illinois was graced with a $552 million prize, making the windfall the ninth biggest welcome surprise in the history of Mega Millions.
The Powerball, a fellow popular lottery event, currently flaunts a jackpot of $41 million. Should a fortunate player decide on a one-time payment, they could potentially receive a sweet sum of $19.4 million as per information available on the Powerball website.
Recently on July 9, 2024, the lucky Mega Millions numbers drawn were as follows: 21 – 26 – 54 – 60 – 64 and a Mega Ball of 3, accompanied by a Megaplier of 3x.
Mega Millions boasts biweekly drawings that take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 PM. Lottery hopefuls must shell out a mere $2 for a ticket. They can further opt to add the Megaplier for an additional dollar, which has the power to increase the potential winnings up to five times the original prize, with the exception of the grand jackpot.
Entering the game requires the participant to select five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls, and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. Alternatively, the lottery machine can randomly generate a Quick Pick for those who don’t wish to choose the numbers themselves.
Even those who fail to match all numbers stand a chance to win; a single correct Mega Ball can result in a $2 win, while matching all five white balls—aside from California—can lead to a $1 million payout, according to the Mega Millions website.
One can partake in the Mega Millions lottery in 45 states, including the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states that currently do not offer it are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Lottery tickets are available for purchase at various locations including gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. For those preferring a digital route, lottery tickets can be ordered online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, available in certain states. This platform allows hopeful players to choose their game and numbers, place their orders, see their ticket, and collect winnings all from their phone or home computer.
The deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket tends to differ by state, generally ranging from 15 minutes to an hour or more before the drawing. In some cases, third-party lottery apps may push the deadline to two hours before the drawing, as in the case of Jackpocket in New Jersey, which has a 9:15 PM deadline for the 11 PM ET drawing.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot stand at approximately 302,575,350-to-1, and for matching all five white balls, comes to 12,607,306-to-1. Should you choose the cash option, your payout will be a cumulative lump sum, significantly lower than the advertised jackpot but without the wait.
Keep in mind, a handful of states, like New Jersey, allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, unlike others where the winner’s name and hometown are public records.
With a rich history of generous jackpots, Mega Millions continues to surprise winners with substantial amounts. The top ten prize amounts range from a staggering $1.602 billion won in Florida in 2023, to a healthy $543 million claimed in California in 2018. Whether you’re a seasoned participant or a first-time player, the lure of such life-changing amounts continues to attract millions each week.
