The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday night’s drawing has soared to an estimated $740 million, marking it as the seventh-largest prize ever offered by the interstate lottery game. Despite the staggering odds, players across the country are eagerly buying tickets in hopes of striking it rich.
No Mega Millions ticket has matched the five white balls and gold Mega Ball since June 4 when a ticket sold in Illinois claimed a $552 million jackpot. Since then, there have been 26 drawings with tens of millions of tickets sold, yet none have matched the six winning numbers.
Tomorrow at 11 pm EST, from the Mega Millions draw studio in Atlanta, five white numbers will be drawn from a pool of 90 balls along with a gold Mega Ball chosen from a pool of 25. The odds of winning the top prize remain a daunting one in 302,575,350. However, as more people participate and the lottery gains media attention, the likelihood of the jackpot being hit increases because more possible number combinations are covered.
For those considering the lump-sum option, the estimated payout is $366.3 million before taxes. This amount would be subject to a federal tax rate of 37%, which is the highest tax bracket, and potentially state income taxes. The lump sum would be immediately reduced by $135.5 million, leaving approximately $230.8 million.
Most Mega Millions and Powerball players rely on the quick pick function to select their ticket numbers. However, data indicates you might have a slightly better chance of winning by picking your numbers. According to USA Mega, an online database tracking lottery draws, the white Mega Millions numbers 3 and 10 have been drawn more often than any others in the 90-ball pool. Each of these numbers has been drawn 67 times out of 715 drawings since October 31, 2017.
The number 10 was last drawn on August 30, while the number 3 was last drawn on July 23. Closely following are the numbers 17, drawn 64 times, and numbers 14 and 31, each drawn 62 times.
Regarding the Mega Ball, the numbers 11 and 22 have been the most frequently drawn, each appearing 39 times out of 715 drawings. Following are the numbers 24 and 18, drawn 36 and 35 times, respectively.
On the flip side, the white number 49 has proven to be particularly unlucky, drawn only 36 times. Other infrequent white balls include numbers 50, 35, 65, and 51. The Mega Ball number 23 has been drawn the least, appearing only 20 times.
Some lottery enthusiasts, after examining these statistics, might be tempted to select numbers that have been drawn the least, thinking they are due for a win. However, mathematicians caution that there is no strategy or science that can influence the outcome of a lottery drawing. Nick Kapoor, a mathematics professor at Fairfield University, explains that each lottery drawing is an independent event unaffected by past or future draws. Utilizing the Mega Millions chart showing the frequency of numbers might improve one’s odds by a negligible 0.0001 to 0.00002%.
“It’s still very, very improbable,” Kapoor stated.
