Today just might be your chance to strike it rich with the Mega Millions lottery. With an estimated jackpot of $970 million up for grabs for Tuesday night’s drawing, excitement is brewing among players eager for a shot at the life-changing prize.
The last jackpot winner, who took home a staggering $800 million, was from Texas and won on September 10. As anticipation builds, the winning numbers for the next draw will be revealed later tonight.
Mega Millions drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m., with the next drawing scheduled for Friday, December 27. If you’re in New York, you can buy your ticket in-store or online until 10 p.m. on the night of the draw—just $2 for your chance to dream big. In neighboring states like New Jersey and Connecticut, ticket sales are available until 10:45 p.m.
The Mega Millions also features a Megaplier option, which enhances non-jackpot winnings by two to five times for an additional dollar. This add-on could potentially amplify your winnings, making the game even more enticing.
Historically, the jackpot has soared to incredible heights, with the top ten jackpots including an astounding $1.602 billion won in Florida in August 2023. As a player, you’ll want to know that the odds of winning the jackpot stand at a challenging 1 in 302,575,350, so while the opportunity is real, it is a long shot.
Winners have the option of choosing between an annuity, which distributes payments over 30 years, or a one-time cash payment. The structured payments are designed to maintain the winner’s purchasing power in times of inflation.
Participating is simple: pick five white balls from 1 to 70 and a gold Mega Ball from 1 to 25. And if you prefer to leave it to chance, you can opt for a Quick Pick, where the numbers are randomly generated for you.
As the excitement builds around tonight’s drawing and the potential life-changing outcomes, it’s a reminder of the hope and dreams that lotteries can inspire. Best of luck to all players!