The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $800 million, with a cash option valued at $404.2 million, ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing, as reported on the Mega Millions website.
The jackpot was last claimed on June 4 by a player in Illinois, who won $552 million, marking it as the ninth largest Mega Millions payout in history.
In addition, the Powerball jackpot stands at $134 million, with a cash option of $67.6 million, as indicated on the Powerball website.
For those eager to know, the winning Mega Millions numbers drawn on September 10, 2024, were 1, 2, 16, 24, 66, and the Megaball was 6. The Megaplier for this drawing was 4x.
Mega Millions drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
To participate in Mega Millions, a player must purchase a ticket for $2, with an option to add the Megaplier for an additional $1, which enhances the potential winnings up to five times the original prize, excluding the jackpot. Players select five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls, as well as one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. Random Quick Picks can be generated by the lottery machine, and you do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident of the state where you purchase your ticket.
Players have the chance to win $2 simply by matching the Mega Ball, with prizes up to $1 million available for matching all five white balls, except in California. Detailed prize payouts can be found on the Mega Millions website.
Mega Millions is available in 45 states, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states that do not offer the game are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Lottery tickets can be bought in person at various retailers, including gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Certain airport terminals may also sell tickets. Additionally, tickets can be ordered online through Jackpocket, which is the designated digital lottery courier for the USA TODAY Network, available in several states.
The deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets varies by state, so interested players should avoid last-minute purchases. It can range from 15 minutes to several hours prior to the drawing. For instance, Jackpocket in New Jersey has a ticket purchasing deadline of 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. drawing.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot stand at 302,575,350 to 1, with the chance of matching all five white balls at 12,607,306 to 1.
In the U.S., major lotteries generally provide two options for jackpot payout: annuity and cash. The annuity is dispersed over a series of payments, while the cash option is available as a lump sum but is lower than the advertised jackpot amount.
In some states, such as New Jersey, winners can choose to remain anonymous, a recent law allowing such confidentiality. However, in other states, the winners’ names and locations are publicly accessible.
The article concludes with a note about the top Mega Millions jackpots and references Jackpocket, which is not associated with any state lottery and promotes responsible gaming.